Novel benzimidazole derivatives

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     which inhibit RNA-containing virus, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.12/714,583, filed Mar. 1, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/156,131 filed Feb. 27, 2009. The entireteachings of the above applications are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel antiviral agents. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to compounds which caninhibit the function of the NS5A protein encoded by Hepatitis C virus(HCV), compositions comprising such compounds, methods for inhibitingHCV viral replication, methods for treating or preventing HCV infection,and processes for making the compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Infection with HCV is a major cause of human liver disease throughoutthe world. In the US, an estimated 4.5 million Americans are chronicallyinfected with HCV. Although only 30% of acute infections aresymptomatic, greater than 85% of infected individuals develop chronic,persistent infection. Treatment costs for HCV infection have beenestimated at $5.46 billion for the US in 1997. Worldwide over 200million people are estimated to be infected chronically. HCV infectionis responsible for 40-60% of all chronic liver disease and 30% of allliver transplants. Chronic HCV infection accounts for 30% of allcirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer in the U.S. The CDCestimates that the number of deaths due to HCV will minimally increaseto 38,000/year by the year 2010.

Due to the high degree of variability in the viral surface antigens,existence of multiple viral genotypes, and demonstrated specificity ofimmunity, the development of a successful vaccine in the near future isunlikely. Alpha-interferon (alone or in combination with ribavirin) hasbeen widely used since its approval for treatment of chronic HCVinfection. However, adverse side effects are commonly associated withthis treatment: flu-like symptoms, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia,depression from interferon, as well as anemia induced by ribavirin(Lindsay, K. L. (1997) Hepatology 26 (suppl 1): 71S-77S). This therapyremains less effective against infections caused by HCV genotype 1(which constitutes ˜75% of all HCV infections in the developed markets)compared to infections caused by the other 5 major HCV genotypes.Unfortunately, only ˜50-80% of the patients respond to this treatment(measured by a reduction in serum HCV RNA levels and normalization ofliver enzymes) and, of responders, 50-70% relapse within 6 months ofcessation of treatment. Recently, with the introduction of pegylatedinterferon (Peg-IFN), both initial and sustained response rates haveimproved substantially, and combination treatment of Peg-IFN withribavirin constitutes the gold standard for therapy. However, the sideeffects associated with combination therapy and the impaired response inpatients with genotype 1 present opportunities for improvement in themanagement of this disease.

First identified by molecular cloning in 1989 (Choo, Q-L et al (1989)Science 244:359-362), HCV is now widely accepted as the most commoncausative agent of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) (Kuo,G et al (1989) Science 244:362-364). Due to its genome structure andsequence homology, this virus was assigned as a new genus in theFlaviviridae family. Like the other members of the Flaviviridae, such asflaviviruses (e.g. yellow fever virus and Dengue virus types 1-4) andpestiviruses (e.g. bovine viral diarrhea virus, border disease virus,and classic swine fever virus) (Choo, Q-L et al (1989) Science244:359-362; Miller, R. H. and R. H. Purcell (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 87:2057-2061), HCV is an enveloped virus containing a singlestrand RNA molecule of positive polarity. The HCV genome isapproximately 9.6 kilobases (kb) with a long, highly conserved,noncapped 5′ nontranslated region (NTR) of approximately 340 bases whichfunctions as an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) (Wang C Y et al ‘AnRNA pseudoknot is an essential structural element of the internalribosome entry site located within the hepatitis C virus 5′ noncodingregion’ RNA-A Publication of the RNA Society. 1(5): 526-537, 1995 Jul.).This element is followed by a region which encodes a single long openreading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of ˜3000 amino acidscomprising both the structural and nonstructural viral proteins.

Upon entry into the cytoplasm of the cell, this RNA is directlytranslated into a polypeptide of ˜3000 amino acids comprising both thestructural and nonstructural viral proteins. This large polypeptide issubsequently processed into the individual structural and nonstructuralproteins by a combination of host and virally-encoded proteinases (Rice,C. M. (1996) in B. N. Fields, D. M. Knipe and P. M. Howley (eds)Virology 2^(nd) Edition, p931-960; Raven Press, N.Y.). There are threestructural proteins, C, E1 and E2. The P7 protein is of unknown functionand is comprised of a highly variable sequence. There are severalnon-structural proteins. NS2 is a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase thatfunctions in conjunction with a portion of the NS3 protein. NS3incorporates two catalytic functions (separate from its association withNS2): a serine protease at the N-terminal end, which requires NS4A as acofactor, and an ATP-ase-dependent helicase function at the carboxylterminus. NS4A is a tightly associated but non-covalent cofactor of theserine protease. NS5A is a membrane-anchored phosphoprotein that isobserved in basally phosphorylated (56 kDa) and hyperphosphorylated (58kDa) forms. While its function has not fully been elucidated, NS5A isbelieved to be important in viral replication. The NS5B protein (591amino acids, 65 kDa) of HCV (Behrens, S. E. et al (1996) EMBO J. 1512-22) encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity andcontains canonical motifs present in other RNA viral polymerases. TheNS5B protein is fairly well conserved both intra-typically (˜95-98%amino acid (aa) identity across 1b isolates) and inter-typically (˜85%aa identity between genotype 1a and 1b isolates). The essentiality ofthe HCV NS5B RdRp activity for the generation of infectious progenyvirions has been formally proven in chimpanzees (A. A. Kolykhalov et al.(2000) Journal of Virology, 74(4): 2046-2051). Thus, inhibition of NS5BRdRp activity (inhibition of RNA replication) is predicted to be usefulto treat HCV infection.

Following the termination codon at the end of the long ORF, there is a3′ NTR which roughly consists of three regions: an ˜40 base region whichis poorly conserved among various genotypes, a variable lengthpoly(U)/polypyrimidine tract, and a highly conserved 98 base elementalso called the “3′ X-tail” (Kolykhalov, A. et al (1996) J. Virology70:3363-3371; Tanaka, T. et al (1995) Biochem Biophys. Res. Commun.215744-749; Tanaka, T. et at (1996) J. Virology 70:3307-3312; Yamada, N.et al (1996) Virology 223:255-261). The 3′ NTR is predicted to form astable secondary structure which is essential for HCV growth in chimpsand is believed to function in the initiation and regulation of viralRNA replication.

Compounds useful for treating HCV-infected patients are desired whichselectively inhibit HCV viral replication. In particular, compoundswhich are effective to inhibit the function of the NS5A protein aredesired. The HCV NS5A protein is described, for example, in Tan, S.-L.,Katzel, M. G. Virology 2001, 284, 1; and in Rice, C. M. Nature 2005,435, 374.

Based on the foregoing, there exists a significant need to identifycompounds with the ability to inhibit HCV. A general strategy for thedevelopment of antiviral agents is to inactivate virally encodedproteins, including NS5A, that are essential for the replication of thevirus. The relevant patent disclosures describing the synthesis of HCVNS5A inhibitors are: US 2009/0202478; US 2009/0202483; WO 2009/020828;WO 2009/020825; WO 2009/102318; WO 2009/102325; WO 2009/102694; WO2008/144380; WO 2008/021927; WO 2008/021928; WO 2008/021936; WO2006/133326; WO 2004/014852; WO 2008/070447; WO 2009/034390; WO2006/079833; WO 2007/031791; WO 2007/070556; WO 2007/070600; WO2008/064218; WO 2008/154601; WO 2007/082554; and WO 2008/048589; thecontents of each of which are expressly incorporated by referenceherein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel antiviral compounds representedherein below, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, andmethods for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral (particularly HCV)infection in a subject in need of such therapy with said compounds.Compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of thehepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents.

In its principal aspect, the present invention provides a compound ofFormula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein:

D and Z are are each independently absent or optionally substitutedlinear aliphatic group containing zero to eight carbons;

A and E are are each independently absent or a cyclic groupindependently selected from aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, and C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, each optionally substituted;

T is absent or an optionally substituted aliphatic group;

Wherein one to four of A, D, E, T and Z is absent;

Ring B is a five-membered heteroaryl wherein said heteroaryl isoptionally substituted; preferably, a five-membered heteroarylcontaining one or more nitrogen; more preferably, imidazolyl that isC-attached to group J and one of groups Z, E, T, A and D;

R¹ at each occurrence is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, optionally substituted C₁-C₄alkyl, —O—R¹¹, —NR^(a)R^(b), —C(O)R¹¹, —CO₂R¹¹, and —C(O)NR^(a)R^(b);preferably hydrogen, halogen and optionally substituted C₁-C₄ alkyl;

R¹¹ at each occurrence is independently hydrogen or optionallysubstituted C₁-C₈ alkyl;

R^(a) and R^(b) at each occurrence are each independently selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl,and optionally substituted C₂-C₈ alkenyl; or R^(a) and R^(b) can betaken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to forman optionally substituted heterocyclic or optionally substitutedheteroaryl group;

u is 1, 2, or 3;

Q and J are each independently selected from:

R³ and R⁴ at each occurrence are each independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl,optionally substituted C₂-C₈ alkenyl, and optionally substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; preferably hydrogen or optionally substituted C₁-C₄ alkyl;or alternatively, R³ and R⁴ can be taken together with the carbon atomto which they are attached to form optionally substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl or optionally substituted heterocyclic;

R⁵ at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, optionally substitutedC₁-C₈ alkyl, or optionally substituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; preferablyhydrogen or optionally substituted C₁-C₄ alkyl;

R⁶ at each occurrence is independently selected from the groupconsisting of —C(O)—R¹², —C(O)—C(O)—R¹², —S(O)₂—R¹², and —C(S)—R¹²,preferably —C(O)—R¹², more preferably an optionally substituted aminoacid acyl;

R¹² at each occurrence is independently selected from the groupconsisting of —O—R¹¹, —NR^(a)R^(b), —R¹³, and —NR^(c)R^(d), preferablyoptionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl and —O—R¹¹;

R¹³ at each occurrence is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, aryl, and heteroaryl, eachoptionally substituted; preferably optionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl;more preferably C₁-C₈ alkyl optionally substituted with amino, hydroxy,optionally substituted phenyl, protected amino, or O(C₁-C₄ alkyl); and

R^(c) and R^(d) at each occurrence are each independently selected fromthe group consisting of hydrogen, —R¹³, —C(O)—R¹³, —C(O)—OR¹³,—S(O)₂—R¹³, —C(O)N(R¹³)₂, and —S(O)₂N(R¹³)₂;

m is 0, 1, or 2, preferably 1;

n is 1, 2, 3, or 4, preferably 1 or 2;

X at each occurrence is independently selected from O, S, S(O), SO₂, andC(R⁷)₂, preferably CH₂ or CHR⁷; provided that when m is 0, X is C(R⁷)₂;and

R⁷ at each occurrence is independently selected from the groupconsisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, —O—R¹¹, —NR^(a)R^(b), optionallysubstituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, optionallysubstituted —C₁-C₄ alkyl; and optionally substituted C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl,preferably hydrogen, methyl, cyclopropyl or halogen; or two vicinal R⁷groups are taken together with the two adjacent atoms to which they areattached to form a fused, optionally substituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl oroptionally substituted heterocyclic ring; preferably a fused, optionallysubstituted cyclopropyl; or alternatively two geminal R⁷ groups aretaken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form aspiro, optionally substituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl or optionally substitutedheterocyclic ring; preferably a spiro, optionally substitutedcyclopropyl.

Each preferred group stated above can be taken in combination with one,any or all other preferred groups.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compoundor combination of compounds of the present invention, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofinhibiting the replication of a RNA-containing virus comprisingcontacting said virus with a therapeutically effective amount of acompound or a combination of compounds of the present invention, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Particularly, this inventionis directed to methods of inhibiting the replication of HCV.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a method oftreating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing viruscomprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment atherapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination ofcompounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof. Particularly, this invention is directed to methods oftreating or preventing infection caused by HCV.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides the use of acompound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or atherapeutically acceptable salt thereof, as defined hereinafter, in thepreparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of infectioncaused by RNA-containing virus, specifically HCV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) as illustratedabove, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The compounds of the invention have utility in inhibiting thereplication of RNA-containing virus, including, for example, HCV. Othercompounds useful for inhibiting the replication of RNA-containingviruses and/or for the treatment or prophylaxis of HCV infection havebeen described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/702,673 filedFeb. 9, 2010 entitled “Linked Dibenzimidazole Antivirals”; U.S.application Ser. No. 12/702,692 filed Feb. 9, 2010 entitled “LinkedDibenzimidazole Derivatives”; U.S. application Ser. No. 12/702,802 filedFeb. 9, 2010 entitled “Linked Dibenzimidazole Derivatives”; U.S.application Ser. No. 12/707,190 filed Feb. 17, 2010 entitled “LinkedDiimidazole Antivirals”; U.S. application Ser. No. 12/707,200 filed Feb.17, 2010 entitled “Linked Diimidazole Derivatives”; U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/707,210 filed Feb. 17, 2010 entitled “Hepatitis C VirusInhibitors”; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/158,071 filedMar. 6, 2009 entitled “Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors”; the contents ofeach of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds of Formula(Ia), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Q, J, u, and R¹ are as previously defined andRing B¹ is a five-membered heteroaryl that is C-attached to J and to oneZ, E, T, A and D.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds ofFormula (Ib), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Q, J, u, and R¹ are as previously defined andRing B² is selected from imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, oxadiazolyl,thiazolyl, and isoxazolyl; and B² is C-attached to J and to one Z, E, T,A and D.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to compounds ofFormulae (Ic-1˜Ic-4), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B, X, u, m, n, R¹, R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ areas previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formulae (Id-1˜Id-4), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B, R³, R⁴, R⁵, and R¹² are as previouslydefined and X¹ is independently CH₂, CHF, CH(OH), or CF₂.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the absolutestereochemistry of the pyrrolidine and 2-benzimidazolylmethylamine orfive-membered heteroarylmethylamine moiety is represented by Formulae(Ie-1˜Ie-4):

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B, R³, R⁵, and R¹² are as previouslydefined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (If), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B, and R^(H) are as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (Ig), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B, R^(a) and R^(b) are as previouslydefined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (Ih), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B, R^(c) and R^(d) are as previouslydefined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (Ii), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B, and R¹³ are as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (Ij), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A, D, E, T, Z, Ring B are as previously defined and R^(13a) ateach occurrence is independently an optionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl;preferably C₁-C₈ alkyl optionally substituted with amino, hydroxy,phenyl, protected amino, or O(C₁-C₄ alkyl); or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IIa), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein Q, J, Ring B, u, and R¹ are as previously defined and T ispresent and as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IIb), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein Q, J, Ring B, u, and R¹ are as previously defined and A ispresent and as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IIc), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein Q, J, Ring B, u, and R¹ are as previously defined and T¹ is alinear aliphatic group, optionally containing one or more of an olefinicdouble bond and an alkynic triple bond and further, optionallycomprising one or more groups selected from the group consisting of O,N(R¹¹), C(O), S(O)₂, C(O)O, C(O)N(R¹¹), OC(O)O, OC(O)N(R¹¹),S(O)₂N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)C(O)N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)C(O)C(O)N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹),C(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂ and C(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹).

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IId), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein Q, J, Ring B, u, and R¹ are as previously defined and T² is analiphatic group comprising a C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl andoptionally contains one or more of an olefinic double bond and analkynic triple bond and further, optionally comprises one or more groupsselected from the group consisting of O, N(R¹¹), C(O), S(O)₂, C(O)O,C(O)N(R¹¹), OC(O)O, OC(O)N(R¹¹), S(O)₂N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)C(O)N(R¹¹),N(R¹¹)C(O)C(O)N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹), C(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂ andC(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹).

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formulae (IIIa-1 and IIIa-2), or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof:

wherein Q, J, Ring B, u, and R¹ are as previously defined; in Formula(IIIa-1), A and T are each present and as previously defined; and inFormula (IIIa-2), T and E are each present and as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IIIa-3), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein n is 1 or 2; T is absent or optionally substituted C₂-C₄ alkenylor optionally substituted C₂-C₄ alkynyl; E is phenyl, monocyclicheteroaryl, bicyclic aryl, or bicyclic heteroaryl, each optionallysubstituted; X at each occurrence is independently CH₂, CHF, CH(OH),CHMe, CF₂, or C(R⁷)₂; wherein R⁷ at each occurrence is independentlyhydrogen or methyl; alternatively, the two geminal R⁷ groups are takentogether with the carbon to which they are attached to form a spiro,optionally substituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; or yet alternatively, twovicinal R⁷ groups are taken together with the two adjacent atoms towhich they are attached to form a fused, optionally substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; and R¹² at each occurrence is independently optionallysubstituted C₁-C₈ alkyl. In certain aspects, the invention is a compoundof Formula (IIIa-3), wherein R¹² at each occurrence is independentlyC₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with —NHCO₂(C₁-C₄ alkyl) or O(C₁-C₄ alkyl).

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IIIa-3), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;wherein two geminal R⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon towhich they are attached to form a spiro cyclopropyl; and R¹² at eachoccurrence is independently C₁-C₈ alkyl optionally substituted withamino, hydroxy, protected amino, or O(C₁-C₄ alkyl).

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IIIa-3), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;wherein two vicinal R⁷ groups are taken together with the two adjacentatoms to which they are attached to form a fused cyclopropyl; and R¹² ateach occurrence is independently C₁-C₈ alkyl optionally substituted withamino, hydroxy, protected amino, or O(C₁-C₄ alkyl).

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (III-a), (III-b), (III-c) or (III-d), or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof:

wherein n is 1 or 2; X at each occurrence is each independently CH₂,CHF, CH(OH), CHMe, CF₂, or C(R⁷)₂; wherein R⁷ at each occurrence isindependently hydrogen or methyl; alternatively, two geminal R⁷ groupsare taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form aspiro cyclopropyl; or yet alternatively, two vicinal R⁷ groups can betaken together with the two adjacent atoms to which they are attached toform a fused cyclopropyl; and R¹² at each occurrence is independentlyC₁-C₈ alkyl optionally substituted with amino, hydroxy, protected amino,or O(C₁-C₄ alkyl).

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (III-a), (III-b), (III-c) or (III-d); wherein R¹² at eachoccurrence is independently C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with —NHCO₂(C₁-C₄alkyl) or O(C₁-C₄ alkyl); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IIIb), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein Q, J, Ring B, u, and R¹ are as previously defined; A and E areeach present and as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formulae (IVa-1 and IVa-2), or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof:

wherein Ring B¹, Q, J, u, and R¹ are as previously defined; in Formula(IVa-1), A, D, and T are each present and as previously defined; and inFormula (IVa-2), E, T, and Z are each present and as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (IVb), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein Ring B¹, Q, J, u, and R¹ are as previously defined; A, E, and Tare each present and as previously defined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formulae (Va-1 and Va-2), or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof:

wherein Ring B¹, Q, J, u, and R¹ are as previously defined; in Formula(Va-1), D, A, T and E are each present and as previously defined; inFormula (Va-2), A, E, T, and Z are each present and as previouslydefined.

In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to compoundsof Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein

at each occurrence is independently illustrated by one of the followinggroups:

Representative compounds of the present invention are those selectedfrom compounds 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 (shown below), and compounds 1-545compiled in Tables 1-9:

TABLE 1 Compounds 1-219.

Entry

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

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24

25

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218

219

TABLE 2 Compounds 220-229.

Entry R R′ R″ X 220 Me H H CH₂ 221 H H H CF₂ 222 Me H H S 223 H H H

224 Me H H O 225 H H H

226 H Ph H CH₂ 227 H H H

228 H H Ph CH₂ 229 H H H

TABLE 3 Compounds 234-243.

Entry R R′ R″ 234 Me Me H 235 H Me H 236 Me H Me 237 cyclopropyl Me H238 Me Me Me 239 Me cyclopropyl H 240 Me Allyl H 241 Et Me H 242 MeCHMe₂ H 243 Me Et H.

TABLE 4 Compounds 244-263.

Entry R R′ 244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

262

263

TABLE 5 Compounds 264-273.

Entry R R′ R″ R′′′ 264 F H H H 265 F F H H 266 Me H H H 267 Me Me H H268 H H Me Me 269 H H Et Et 270 CF₃ H H H 271 CF₃ H CF₃ H 272 Cl H H H273 Cl H Cl H.

TABLE 6 Compounds 274-299.

Entry R R′ R″ R′′′ 274 Me H H H 275 H CO₂H H H 276 H F H H 277 H H CO₂HH 278 H H F H 279 H H H CO₂H 280 H H H F 281 H CO₂Me H H 282 H Cl H H283 H H CO₂Me H 284 H H Cl H 285 H H H CO₂Me 286 H H H Cl 287 H CONH₂ HH 288 H Me H H 289 H H CONH₂ H 290 H H Me H 291 H H H CONH₂ 292 H H H Me293 H OMe H H 294 H CF₃ H H 295 H H OMe H 296 H H CF₃ H 297 H H H OMe298 H H H CF₃ 299 CO₂Me H H H.

TABLE 7 Compounds 300-434.

Entry A^(a) 300

301

302

303

304

305

306

307

308

309

310

311

312

313

314

315

316

317

318

319

320

321

322

323

324

325

326

327

328

329

330

331

332

333

334

335

336

337

338

339

340

341

342

343

344

345

346

347

348

349

350

351

352

353

354

355

356

357

358

359

360

361

362

363

364

365

366

367

368

369

370

371

372

373

374

375

376

377

378

379

380

381

382

383

384

385

386

387

388

389

390

391

392

393

394

395

396

397

398

399

400

401

402

403

404

405

406

407

408

409

410

411

412

413

414

415

416

417

418

419

420

421

422

423

424

425

426

427

428

429

430

431

432

433

434

TABLE 8 Compounds 435-440.

Entry B^(b) 435

436

437

438

439

440

TABLE 9 Compounds 441-545 441

442

443

444

445

446

447

448

449

450

451

452

453

454

455

456

457

458

459

460

461

462

463

464

465

466

467

468

469

470

471

472

473

474

475

476

477

478

479

480

481

482

483

484

485

486

487

488

489

490

491

492

493

494

495

496

497-a

497-b

498

499

500

501

502

503

504

505

506

507

508

509

510

511

512

513

514

515

516

517

518

519

520

521

522

523

524

525

526

527

528

529

530

531

532

533

534

535

536

537

538

539

540

541

542

543

544

545

It will be appreciated that the description of the present inventionherein should be construed in congruity with the laws and principals ofchemical bonding. In some instances it may be necessary to remove ahydrogen atom in order to accommodate a substitutent at any givenlocation.

It is intended that the definition of any substituent or variable (e.g.,R¹, R², X, u, m, etc.) at a particular location in a molecule beindependent of its definitions elsewhere in that molecule. For example,when u is 2, each of the two R¹ groups may be the same or different.

It will be yet appreciated that the compounds of the present inventionmay contain one or more asymmetric carbon atoms and may exist inracemic, diastereoisomeric, and optically active forms. It will still beappreciated that certain compounds of the present invention may exist indifferent tautomeric forms. All tautomers are contemplated to be withinthe scope of the present invention.

It should be understood that the compounds encompassed by the presentinvention are those that are suitably stable for use as pharmaceuticalagent.

It will be further appreciated that reference herein to therapy and/ortreatment includes, but is not limited to, prevention, retardation,prophylaxis, therapy and cure of the disease. It will further beappreciated that references herein to treatment or prophylaxis of HCVinfection includes treatment or prophylaxis of HCV-associated diseasesuch as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

A further embodiment of the present invention includes pharmaceuticalcompositions comprising any single compound or a combination of two ormore compounds delineated herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

Yet a further embodiment of the present invention is a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising any single compound or a combination of two ormore compounds delineated herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, in combination with one or more agents known in the art, with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.

It will be further appreciated that compounds of the present inventioncan be administered as the sole active pharmaceutical agent, or used incombination with one or more agents to treat or prevent hepatitis Cinfections or the symptoms associated with HCV infection. Other agentsto be administered in combination with a compound or combination ofcompounds of the present invention include therapies for disease causedby HCV infection that suppresses HCV viral replication by direct orindirect mechanisms. These agents include, but are not limited to, hostimmune modulators (for example, interferon-alpha, pegylatedinterferon-alpha, consensus interferon, interferon-beta,interferon-gamma, CpG oligonucleo-tides and the like); antiviralcompounds that inhibit host cellular functions such as inosinemonophosphate dehydrogenase (for example, ribavirin and the like);cytokines that modulate immune function (for example, interleukin 2,interleukin 6, and interleukin 12); a compound that enhances thedevelopment of type 1 helper T cell response; interfering RNA;anti-sense RNA; vaccines comprising HCV antigens or antigen adjuvantcombinations directed against HCV; agents that interact with hostcellular components to block viral protein synthesis by inhibiting theinternal ribosome entry site (IRES) initiated translation step of HCVviral replication or to block viral particle maturation and release withagents targeted toward the viroporin family of membrane proteins suchas, for example, HCV P7 and the like; and any agent or combination ofagents that inhibit the replication of HCV by targeting other proteinsof the viral genome involved in the viral replication and/or interferewith the function of other viral targets, such as inhibitors of NS3/NS4Aprotease, NS3 helicase, NS5B polymerase, NS4A protein and NS5A protein.

According to yet another embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions ofthe present invention may further comprise other inhibitor(s) of targetsin the HCV life cycle, including, but not limited to, helicase,polymerase, metalloprotease, NS4A protein, NS5A protein, and internalribosome entry site (IRES).

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to amethod for treating or preventing an infection caused by anRNA-containing virus comprising co-administering to a patient in need ofsuch treatment one or more agents selected from the group consisting ofa host immune modulator and a second or more antiviral agents, or acombination thereof, with a therapeutically effective amount of acompound or combination of compounds of the present invention, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Examples of the host immunemodulator are, but not limited to, interferon-alpha,pegylated-interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, acytokine, a vaccine, and a vaccine comprising an antigen and anadjuvant, and said second antiviral agent inhibits replication of HCVeither by inhibiting host cellular functions associated with viralreplication or by targeting proteins of the viral genome. A non-limitingexample of the RNA-containing virus is hepatitis C virus (HCV).

A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method oftreating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing viruscomprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment anagent or combination of agents that treat or alleviate symptoms of HCVinfection including cirrhosis and inflammation of the liver, with atherapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination ofcompounds of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof. A non-limiting example of the RNA-containing virus ishepatitis C virus (HCV).

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a method oftreating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing viruscomprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment oneor more agents that treat patients for disease caused by hepatitis B(HBV) infection, with a therapeutically effective amount of a compoundor a combination of compounds of the present invention, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. An agent that treats patientsfor disease caused by hepatitis B (HBV) infection may be for example,but not limited thereto, L-deoxythymidine, adefovir, lamivudine ortenfovir, or any combination thereof. A non-limiting example of theRNA-containing virus is hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Another further embodiment of the present invention provides a method oftreating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containing viruscomprising co-administering to a patient in need of such treatment oneor more agents that treat patients for disease caused by humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, with a therapeutically effectiveamount of a compound or a combination of compounds of the presentinvention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The agent thattreats patients for disease caused by human immuno-deficiency virus(HIV) infection may include, but is not limited thereto, ritonavir,lopinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, amprenavir, atazanavir,tipranavir, TMC-114, fosamprenavir, zidovudine, lamivudine, didanosine,stavudine, tenofovir, zalcitabine, abacavir, efavirenz, nevirapine,delavirdine, TMC-125, L-870812, S-1360, enfuvirtide (T-20) or T-1249, orany combination thereof. A non-limiting example of the RNA-containingvirus is hepatitis C virus (HCV).

It can occur that a patient may be co-infected with hepatitis C virusand one or more other viruses, including but not limited to humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis Bvirus (HBV). Thus also contemplated herein is combination therapy totreat such co-infections by co-administering a compound according to thepresent invention with at least one of an HIV inhibitor, an HAVinhibitor and an HBV inhibitor.

In addition, the present invention provides the use of a compound or acombination of compounds of the invention, or a therapeuticallyacceptable salt thereof, and one or more agents selected from the groupconsisting of a host immune modulator and one or more additionalantiviral agents, or a combination thereof, to prepare a medicament forthe treatment of an infection caused by an RNA-containing virus in apatient, particularly hepatitis C virus. Examples of the host immunemodulator are, but not limited to, interferon-alpha,pegylated-interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, acytokine, a vaccine, and a vaccine comprising an antigen and anadjuvant. Preferably said additional antiviral agent inhibitsreplication of HCV either by inhibiting host cellular functionsassociated with viral replication or by targeting proteins of the viralgenome.

When used in the above or other treatments, combination of compound orcompounds of the present invention, together with one or more agents asdefined herein above, can be employed in pure form or, where such formsexist, or as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Alternatively,such combination of therapeutic agents can be administered as apharmaceutical composition containing a therapeutically effective amountof the compound or combination of compounds of interest, or theirpharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with one ormore agents as defined hereinabove, and a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. Such pharmaceutical compositions can be used for inhibiting thereplication of an RNA-containing virus, particularly Hepatitis C virus(HCV), by contacting said virus with said pharmaceutical composition. Inaddition, such compositions are useful for the treatment or preventionof an infection caused by an RNA-containing virus, particularlyHepatitis C virus (HCV).

Hence, a still further embodiment of the invention is directed to amethod of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containingvirus, particularly a hepatitis C virus (HCV), comprising administeringto a patient in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising a compound or combination of compounds of the invention or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more agents asdefined hereinabove, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

When administered as a combination, the therapeutic agents can beformulated as separate compositions which are given at the same time orwithin a predetermined period of time, or the therapeutic agents can begiven as a single unit dosage form.

Antiviral agents contemplated for use in such combination therapyinclude agents (compounds or biologicals) that are effective to inhibitthe formation and/or replication of a virus in a mammal, including, butnot limited to, agents that interfere with either host or viralmechanisms necessary for the formation and/or replication of a virus ina mammal. Such agents can be selected from another anti-HCV agent; anHIV inhibitor; an HAV inhibitor; and an HBV inhibitor.

Other agents that can be administered in combination with a compound ofthe present invention include a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor(also referred to herein as a CYP inhibitor), which is expected toinhibit metabolism of the compounds of the invention. Therefore, thecytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor would be in an amount effectiveto inhibit metabolism of the compounds of this invention. Accordingly,the CYP inhibitor is administered in an amount sufficient to improve oneor more pharmacokinetic (PK) feautures including, but not limited to,plasma concentration, bioavailiablity, area under the plasmaconcentration time curve (AUC), elimination half-life, and systemicclearance, of a compound of the invention when one or more of its PKfeautures of said compound is improved in comparison to that in theabsence of the CYP inhibitor.

In one embodiment, the invention provides methods for improving thepharmaco-kinetics of compounds of the invention. The advantages ofimproving the pharmacokinetics of drugs are recognized in the art (see,for example, US Patent Publication No's. 2004/0091527; US 2004/0152625;and US 2004/0091527). Accordingly, one embodiment of this inventionprovides a method comprising administering an inhibitor of CYP3A4 and acompound of the invention. Another embodiment of this invention providesa method comprising administering a compound of the invention and aninhibitor of isozyme 3A4 (“CYP3A4”), isozyme 2C19 (“CYP2C19”), isozyme2D6 (“CYP2D6”), isozyme 1A2 (“CYP1A2”), isozyme 2C9 (“CYP2C9”), orisozyme 2E1 (“CYP2E1”). In a preferred embodiment, the CYP inhibitorpreferably inhibits CYP3A4. Any CYP inhibitor that improves thepharmacokinetics of the relevant compound of the invention may be usedin a method of this invention. These CYP inhibitors include, but are notlimited to, ritonavir (see, for example, WO 94/14436), ketoconazole,troleandomycin, 4-methylpyrazole, cyclosporin, clomethiazole,cimetidine, itraconazole, fluconazole, miconazole, fluvoxamine,fluoxetine, nefazodone, sertraline, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir,fosamprenavir, saquinavir, lopinavir, delavirdine, ditiazem,erythromycin, VX-944, and VX-497. Preferred CYP inhibitors includeritonavir, ketoconazole, troleandomycin, 4-methylpyrazole, cyclosporin,and clomethiazole.

It will be understood that the administration of the combination of theinvention by means of a single patient pack, or patient packs of eachformulation, containing within a package insert instructing the patientto the correct use of the invention is a desirable additional feature ofthis invention.

According to a further aspect of the invention, is a pack comprising atleast a compound of the invention and a CYP inhibitor and an informationinsert containing directions on the use of the combination of theinvention. In an alternative embodiment of this invention, the packfurther comprises one or more of additional agent as described herein.The additional agent or agents may be provided in the same pack or inseparate packs.

Another aspect of this involves a packaged kit for a patient to use inthe treatment of HCV infection or in the prevention of HCV infection,comprising: a single or a plurality of pharmaceutical formulation ofeach pharmaceutical component; a container housing the pharmaceuticalformulation(s) during storage and prior to administration; andinstructions for carrying out drug administration in a manner effectiveto treat or prevent HCV infection.

Accordingly, this invention provides kits for the simultaneous orsequential administration of a compound of the invention and a CYPinhibitor (and optionally an additional agent) or derivatives thereofare prepared in a conventional manner. Typically, such a kit willcomprise, e.g. a composition of a compound of the invention andoptionally the additional agent (s) in a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier (and in one or in a plurality of pharmaceutical formulations)and written instructions for the simultaneous or sequentialadministration.

In another embodiment, a packaged kit is provided that contains one ormore dosage forms for self administration; a container means, preferablysealed, for housing the dosage forms during storage and prior to use;and instructions for a patient to carry out drug administration. Theinstructions will typically be written instructions on a package insert,a label, and/or on other components of the kit, and the dosage form orforms are as described herein. Each dosage form may be individuallyhoused, as in a sheet of a metal foil-plastic laminate with each dosageform isolated from the others in individual cells or bubbles, or thedosage forms may be housed in a single container, as in a plasticbottle. The present kits will also typically include means for packagingthe individual kit components, i.e., the dosage forms, the containermeans, and the written instructions for use. Such packaging means maytake the form of a cardboard or paper box, a plastic or foil pouch, etc.

DEFINITIONS

Listed below are definitions of various terms used to describe thisinvention. These definitions apply to the terms as they are usedthroughout this specification and claims, unless otherwise limited inspecific instances, either individually or as part of a larger group.

The term “aryl,” as used herein, refers to a mono- or polycycliccarbocyclic ring system comprising at least one aromatic ring,including, but not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl,indanyl, idenyl. A polycyclic aryl is a polycyclic ring system thatcomprises at least one aromatic ring. Polycyclic aryls can comprisefused rings, covalently attached rings or a combination thereof.

The term “heteroaryl,” as used herein, refers to a mono- or polycyclicaromatic radical having one or more ring atom selected from S, O and N;and the remaining ring atoms are carbon, wherein any N or S containedwithin the ring may be optionally oxidized. Heteroaryl includes, but isnot limited to, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl,imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxadiazolyl,thiophenyl, furanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl,benzooxazolyl, quinoxalinyl. A polycyclic heteroaryl can comprise fusedrings, covalently attached rings or a combination thereof.

In accordance with the invention, aromatic groups can be substituted orunsubstituted.

The term “bicyclic aryl” or “bicyclic heteroaryl” refers to a ringsystem consisting of two rings wherein at least one ring is aromatic;and the two rings can be fused or covalently attached.

The terms “C₁-C₄ alkyl,” “C₁-C₆ alkyl,” “C₁-C₈ alkyl,” “C₂-C₄ alkyl,” or“C₃-C₆ alkyl,” as used herein, refer to saturated, straight- orbranched-chain hydrocarbon radicals containing between one and four, oneand six, one and eight carbon atoms, or the like, respectively. Examplesof C₁-C₈ alkyl radicals include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl,propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, heptyl andoctyl radicals.

The terms “C₂-C₈ alkenyl,” “C₂-C₄ alkenyl,” “C₃-C₄ alkenyl,” or “C₃-C₆alkenyl,” as used herein, refer to straight- or branched-chainhydrocarbon radicals containing from two to eight, or two to four carbonatoms, or the like, having at least one carbon-carbon double bond by theremoval of a single hydrogen atom. Alkenyl groups include, but are notlimited to, for example, ethenyl, propenyl, butenyl,1-methyl-2-buten-1-yl, heptenyl, octenyl, and the like.

The terms “C₂-C₈ alkynyl,” “C₂-C₄ alkynyl,” “C₃-C₄ alkynyl,” or “C₃-C₆alkynyl,” as used herein, refer to straight- or branched-chainhydrocarbon radicals containing from two to eight, or two to four carbonatoms, or the like, having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond by theremoval of a single hydrogen atom. Representative alkynyl groupsinclude, but are not limited to, for example, ethynyl, 1-propynyl,1-butynyl, heptynyl, octynyl, and the like.

The term “C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl”, or “C₅-C₇-cycloalkyl,” as used herein,refers to a monocyclic or polycyclic saturated carbocyclic ringcompound, and the carbon atoms may be optionally oxo-substituted.Examples of C₃-C₈-cycloalkyl include, but not limited to, cyclopropyl,cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl and cyclooctyl; andexamples of C₅-C₇-cycloalkyl include, but not limited to, cyclopentyl,cyclohexyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl, and the like.

The term “C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl”, or “C₅-C₇ cycloalkenyl” as used herein,refers to monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring compound having atleast one carbon-carbon double bond, and the carbon atoms may beoptionally oxo-substituted. Examples of C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl include, butnot limited to, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl,cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, and the like; and examples ofC₅-C₇ cycloalkenyl include, but not limited to, cyclopentenyl,cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, and the like.

The term “arylalkyl”, as used herein, refers to an aryl-substitutedalkyl group. More preferred arylalkyl groups are aryl-C₁-C₆-alkylgroups.

The term “heteroarylalkyl”, as used herein, refers to aheteroaryl-substituted alkyl group. More preferred heteroarylalkylgroups are heteroaryl-C₁-C₆-alkyl groups.

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl andcycloalkenyl moiety described herein can also be an aliphatic group oran alicyclic group.

An “aliphatic” group is a non-aromatic moiety comprised of anycombination of carbon atoms, hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, oxygen,nitrogen or other atoms, and optionally contains one or more units ofunsaturation, e.g., double and/or triple bonds. Examples of aliphaticgroups are functional groups, such as, 0, OH, NH, NH₂, C(O), S(O)₂,C(O)O, C(O)NH, OC(O)O, OC(O)NH, OC(O)NH₂, S(O)₂NH, S(O)₂NH₂, NHC(O)NH₂,NHC(O)C(O)NH, NHS(O)₂NH, NHS(O)₂NH₂, C(O)NHS(O)₂, C(O)NHS(O)₂NH orC(O)NHS(O)₂NH₂, and the like, groups comprising one or more functionalgroups, non-aromatic hydrocarbons (optionally substituted), and groupswherein one or more carbons of a non-aromatic hydrocarbon (optionallysubstituted) is replaced by a functional group. Carbon atoms of analiphatic group can be optionally oxo-substituted. An aliphatic groupmay be straight chained, branched or cyclic and preferably containsbetween about 1 and about 24 carbon atoms, more typically between about1 and about 12 carbon atoms. In addition to aliphatic hydrocarbongroups, as used herein, aliphatic groups expressly include, for example,alkoxyalkyls, polyalkoxyalkyls, such as polyalkylene glycols,polyamines, and polyimines, for example. Aliphatic groups may beoptionally substituted. A linear aliphatic group is a non-cyclicaliphatic group. It is to be understood that when an aliphatic group ora linear aliphatic group is said to “contain” or “include” or “comprise”one or more specified functional groups, the linear aliphatic group can,for example, be selected from one or more of the specified functionalgroups or a combination thereof, or a group wherein one or more carbonsof a non-aromatic hydrocarbon (optionally substituted) is replaced by aspecified functional group. In some examples, the aliphatic group can berepresented by the formula M-Y-M′, where M and M′ are each independentlyabsent or an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, each optionally substituted, andY is a functional group. In some examples, Y is selected from the groupconsisting of C(O), S(O)₂, C(O)O, C(O)N(R¹¹), OC(O)O, OC(O)N(R¹¹),S(O)₂N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)C(O)N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)C(O)C(O)N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹),C(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂ or C(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹); wherein R¹¹ is as previouslydefined. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary linearaliphatic group is an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, each optionallysubstituted, which is interrupted or terminated by a functional groupsuch as described herein.

The term “alicyclic,” as used herein, denotes a monovalent group derivedfrom a monocyclic or bicyclic saturated carbocyclic ring compound by theremoval of a single hydrogen atom, and the carbon atoms may beoptionally oxo-substituted. Examples include, but not limited to,cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl,and bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl. Such alicyclic groups may be furthersubstituted.

The terms “heterocyclic” or “heterocycloalkyl” can be usedinterchangeably and referred to a non-aromatic ring or a bi- ortri-cyclic group fused system, where (i) each ring system contains atleast one heteroatom independently selected from oxygen, sulfur andnitrogen, (ii) each ring system can be saturated or unsaturated, (iii)the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may optionally be oxidized, (iv) thenitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized, (v) any of the aboverings may be fused to an aromatic ring, and (vi) the remaining ringatoms are carbon atoms which may be optionally oxo-substituted.Representative heterocycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to,1,3-dioxolane, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl,imidazolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl,morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, quinoxalinyl,pyridazinonyl, and tetrahydrofuryl. Such heterocyclic groups may befurther substituted. Heteroaryl or heterocyclic groups can be C-attachedor N-attached (where possible).

It is understood that any alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alicyclic,cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, aliphaticmoiety or the like, described herein can also be a divalent group whenused as a linkage to connect two groups or substituents, which can be atthe same or different atom(s).

The term “substituted” refers to substitution by independent replacementof one, two, or three or more of the hydrogen atoms with substituentsincluding, but not limited to, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, protected hydroxy,—NO₂, —N₃, —CN, —NH₂, protected amino, oxo, thioxo, —NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl,—NH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —NH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NH-aryl,—NH-heteroaryl, —NH-heterocycloalkyl, -dialkylamino, -diarylamino,-diheteroarylamino, —O—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —O—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —O—C₂-C₈-alkynyl,—O—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —O-aryl, —O-heteroaryl, —O-heterocycloalkyl,—C(O)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —C(O)—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —C(O)—C₂-C₈-alkynyl,—C(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —C(O)-aryl, —C(O)-heteroaryl,—C(O)-heterocycloalkyl, —CONH₂, —CONH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —CONH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl,—CONH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —CONH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —CONH-aryl,—CONH-heteroaryl, —CONH-heterocycloalkyl, —OCO₂—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl,—OCO₂—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —OCO₂—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —OCO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl,—OCO₂-aryl, —OCO₂-heteroaryl, —OCO₂-heterocycloalkyl, —CO₂—C₁-C₁₂ alkyl,—CO₂—C₂-C₈ alkenyl, —CO₂—C₂-C₈ alkynyl, CO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —CO₂—aryl, CO₂-heteroaryl, CO₂-heterocyloalkyl, —OCONH₂, —OCONH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl,—OCONH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —OCONH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —OCONH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl,—OCONH-aryl, —OCONH-heteroaryl, —OCONH-heterocyclo-alkyl, —NHC(O)H,—NHC(O)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(O)—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —NHC(O)—C₂-C₈-alkynyl,—NHC(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)-aryl, —NHC(O)-heteroaryl,—NHC(O)-heterocyclo-alkyl, —NHCO₂—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHCO₂—C₂-C₈-alkenyl,—NHCO₂—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —NHCO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHCO₂-aryl,—NHCO₂-heteroaryl, —NHCO₂— heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH₂,—NHC(O)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl,—NHC(O)NH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —NHC(O)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(O)NH-aryl,—NHC(O)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(O)NH-heterocycloalkyl, NHC(S)NH₂,—NHC(S)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl,—NHC(S)NH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —NHC(S)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(S)NH-aryl,—NHC(S)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(S)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH₂,—NHC(NH)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl,—NHC(NH)NH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —NHC(NH)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)NH-aryl,—NHC(NH)NH-heteroaryl, —NHC(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl,—NHC(NH)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHC(NH)—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —NHC(NH)—C₂-C₈-alkynyl,—NHC(NH)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHC(NH)-aryl, —NHC(NH)-heteroaryl,—NHC(NH)-heterocycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl,—C(NH)NH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —C(NH)NH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl,—C(NH)NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —C(NH)NH-aryl, —C(NH)NH-heteroaryl,—C(NH)NH-heterocycloalkyl, —S(O)—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —S(O)—C₂-C₈-alkenyl,—S(O)—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —S(O)—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —S(O)-aryl,—S(O)-heteroaryl, —S(O)-heterocycloalkyl, —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl,—SO₂NH—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —SO₂NH—C₂-C₈-alkynyl, —SO₂NH—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl,—SO₂NH-aryl, —SO₂NH-heteroaryl, —SO₂NH-heterocycloalkyl,—NHSO₂—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —NHSO₂—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —NHSO₂—C₂-C₈-alkynyl,—NHSO₂—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —NHSO₂-aryl, —NHSO₂-heteroaryl,—NHSO₂-heterocycloalkyl, —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂SO₂CH₃, -aryl, -arylalkyl,-heteroaryl, -heteroarylalkyl, -heterocycloalkyl, —C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl,polyalkoxyalkyl, polyalkoxy, -methoxymethoxy, -methoxyethoxy, —SH,—S—C₁-C₁₂-alkyl, —S—C₂-C₈-alkenyl, —S—C₂-C₈-alkynyl,—S—C₃-C₁₂-cycloalkyl, —S-aryl, —S-heteroaryl, —S-heterocycloalkyl, ormethylthio-methyl. It is understood that the aryls, heteroaryls, alkyls,and the like can be further substituted.

The term “halogen,” as used herein, refers to an atom selected fromfluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The term “hydrogen” includes hydrogen and deuterium. In addition, therecitation of an atom includes other isotopes of that atom so long asthe resulting compound is pharmaceutically acceptable.

The term “hydroxy activating group”, as used herein, refers to a labilechemical moiety which is known in the art to activate a hydroxyl groupso that it will depart during synthetic procedures such as in asubstitution or an elimination reaction. Examples of hydroxyl activatinggroup include, but not limited to, mesylate, tosylate, triflate,p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate and the like.

The term “activated hydroxy”, as used herein, refers to a hydroxy groupactivated with a hydroxyl activating group, as defined above, includingmesylate, tosylate, triflate, p-nitrobenzoate, phosphonate groups, forexample.

The term “hydroxy protecting group,” as used herein, refers to a labilechemical moiety which is known in the art to protect a hydroxyl groupagainst undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After saidsynthetic procedure(s) the hydroxy protecting group as described hereinmay be selectively removed. Hydroxy protecting groups as known in theart are described generally in T. H. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts,Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons,New York (1999). Examples of hydroxyl protecting groups includebenzyloxycarbonyl, 4-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl, tert-butoxy-carbonyl,isopropoxycarbonyl, diphenylmethoxycarbonyl,2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl, allyloxycarbonyl, acetyl, formyl,chloroacetyl, trifluoroacetyl, methoxyacetyl, phenoxyacetyl, benzoyl,methyl, t-butyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 2-trimethylsilyl ethyl, allyl,benzyl, triphenyl-methyl (trityl), methoxymethyl, methylthiomethyl,benzyloxymethyl, 2-(trimethylsilyl)-ethoxymethyl, methanesulfonyl,trimethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, and the like.

The term “protected hydroxy,” as used herein, refers to a hydroxy groupprotected with a hydroxy protecting group, as defined above, includingbenzoyl, acetyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, methoxymethyl groups,for example.

The term “hydroxy prodrug group”, as used herein, refers to a promoietygroup which is known in the art to change the physicochemical, and hencethe biological properties of a parent drug in a transient manner bycovering or masking the hydroxy group. After said syntheticprocedure(s), the hydroxy prodrug group as described herein must becapable of reverting back to hydroxy group in vivo. Hydroxy prodruggroups as known in the art are described generally in Kenneth B. Sloan,Prodrugs, Topical and Ocular Drug Delivery, (Drugs and thePharmaceutical Sciences; Volume 53), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York(1992).

The term “amino protecting group,” as used herein, refers to a labilechemical moiety which is known in the art to protect an amino groupagainst undesired reactions during synthetic procedures. After saidsynthetic procedure(s) the amino protecting group as described hereinmay be selectively removed. Amino protecting groups as known in the artare described generally in T. H. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, ProtectiveGroups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York(1999). Examples of amino protecting groups include, but are not limitedto, methoxycarbonyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, 9-fluorenyl-methoxycarbonyl,benzyloxycarbonyl, and the like.

The term “protected amino,” as used herein, refers to an amino groupprotected with an amino protecting group as defined above.

The term “leaving group” means a functional group or atom which can bedisplaced by another functional group or atom in a substitutionreaction, such as a nucleophilic substitution reaction. By way ofexample, representative leaving groups include chloro, bromo and iodogroups; sulfonic ester groups, such as mesylate, tosylate, brosylate,nosylate and the like; and acyloxy groups, such as acetoxy,trifluoroacetoxy and the like.

The term “aprotic solvent,” as used herein, refers to a solvent that isrelatively inert to proton activity, i.e., not acting as a proton-donor.Examples include, but are not limited to, hydrocarbons, such as hexaneand toluene, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as, forexample, methylene chloride, ethylene chloride, chloroform, and thelike, heterocyclic compounds, such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran andN-methylpyrrolidinone, and ethers such as diethyl ether,bis-methoxymethyl ether. Such compounds are well known to those skilledin the art, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatindividual solvents or mixtures thereof may be preferred for specificcompounds and reaction conditions, depending upon such factors as thesolubility of reagents, reactivity of reagents and preferred temperatureranges, for example. Further discussions of aprotic solvents may befound in organic chemistry textbooks or in specialized monographs, forexample: Organic Solvents Physical Properties and Methods ofPurification, 4th ed., edited by John A. Riddick et al., Vol. II, in theTechniques of Chemistry Series, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1986.

The term “protic solvent” as used herein, refers to a solvent that tendsto provide protons, such as an alcohol, for example, methanol, ethanol,propanol, isopropanol, butanol, t-butanol, and the like. Such solventsare well known to those skilled in the art, and it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that individual solvents or mixtures thereofmay be preferred for specific compounds and reaction conditions,depending upon such factors as the solubility of reagents, reactivity ofreagents and preferred temperature ranges, for example. Furtherdiscussions of protogenic solvents may be found in organic chemistrytextbooks or in specialized monographs, for example: Organic SolventsPhysical Properties and Methods of Purification, 4th ed., edited by JohnA. Riddick et al., Vol. II, in the Techniques of Chemistry Series, JohnWiley & Sons, NY, 1986.

Combinations of substituents and variables envisioned by this inventionare only those that result in the formation of stable compounds. Theterm “stable”, as used herein, refers to compounds which possessstability sufficient to allow manufacture and which maintains theintegrity of the compound for a sufficient period of time to be usefulfor the purposes detailed herein (e.g., therapeutic or prophylacticadministration to a subject).

The synthesized compounds can be separated from a reaction mixture andfurther purified by a method such as column chromatography, highpressure liquid chromatography, or recrystallization. As can beappreciated by the skilled artisan, further methods of synthesizing thecompounds of the Formula herein will be evident to those of ordinaryskill in the art. Additionally, the various synthetic steps may beperformed in an alternate sequence or order to give the desiredcompounds. Synthetic chemistry transformations and protecting groupmethodologies (protection and deprotection) useful in synthesizing thecompounds described herein are known in the art and include, forexample, those such as described in R. Larock, Comprehensive OrganicTransformations, 2^(nd) Ed. Wiley-VCH (1999); T. W. Greene and P. G. M.Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 3rd Ed., John Wiley andSons (1999); L. Fieser and M. Fieser, Fieser and Fieser's Reagents forOrganic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons (1994); and L. Paquette, ed.,Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, John Wiley and Sons(1995), and subsequent editions thereof.

The term “subject” as used herein refers to an animal. Preferably, theanimal is a mammal. More preferably, the mammal is a human. A subjectalso refers to, for example, dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, guineapigs, fish, birds and the like.

The compounds of this invention may be modified by appending appropriatefunctionalities to enhance selective biological properties. Suchmodifications are known in the art and may include those which increasebiological penetration into a given biological system (e.g., blood,lymphatic system, central nervous system), increase oral availability,increase solubility to allow administration by injection, altermetabolism and alter rate of excretion.

The compounds described herein contain one or more asymmetric centersand thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and otherstereoisomeric forms that may be defined, in terms of absolutestereochemistry, as (R)- or (S)-, or as (D)- or (L)-for amino acids. Thepresent invention is meant to include all such possible isomers, as wellas their racemic and optically pure forms. Optical isomers may beprepared from their respective optically active precursors by theprocedures described above, or by resolving the racemic mixtures. Theresolution can be carried out in the presence of a resolving agent, bychromatography or by repeated crystallization or by some combination ofthese techniques which are known to those skilled in the art. Furtherdetails regarding resolutions can be found in Jacques, et al.,Enantiomers, Racemates, and Resolutions (John Wiley & Sons, 1981). Whenthe compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds, otherunsaturation, or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unlessspecified otherwise, it is intended that the compounds include both Eand Z geometric isomers or cis- and trans-isomers. Likewise, alltautomeric forms are also intended to be included. Tautomers may be incyclic or acyclic. The configuration of any carbon-carbon double bondappearing herein is selected for convenience only and is not intended todesignate a particular configuration unless the text so states; thus acarbon-carbon double bond or carbon-heteroatom double bond depictedarbitrarily herein as trans may be cis, trans, or a mixture of the twoin any proportion.

Certain compounds of the present invention may also exist in differentstable conformational forms which may be separable. Torsional asymmetrydue to restricted rotation about an asymmetric single bond, for examplebecause of steric hindrance or ring strain, may permit separation ofdifferent conformers. The present invention includes each conformationalisomer of these compounds and mixtures thereof.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers tothose salts which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment,suitable for use in contact with the tissues of humans and lower animalswithout undue toxicity, irritation, allergic response and the like, andare commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio. Pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts are well known in the art. For example, S. M. Berge, etal. describes pharmaceutically acceptable salts in detail in J.Pharmaceutical Sciences, 66: 1-19 (1977). The salts can be prepared insitu during the final isolation and purification of the compounds of theinvention, or separately by reacting the free base function with asuitable organic acid. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable saltsinclude, but are not limited to, nontoxic acid addition salts are saltsof an amino group formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid,hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and perchloric acid orwith organic acids such as acetic acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid,citric acid, succinic acid or malonic acid or by using other methodsused in the art such as ion exchange. Other pharmaceutically acceptablesalts include, but are not limited to, adipate, alginate, ascorbate,aspartate, benzenesulfonate, benzoate, bisulfate, borate, butyrate,camphorate, camphorsulfonate, citrate, cyclopentane-propionate,digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, formate, fumarate,glucoheptonate, glycerophosphate, gluconate, hemisulfate, heptanoate,hexanoate, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonate, lactobionate,lactate, laurate, lauryl sulfate, malate, maleate, malonate,methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, nitrate, oleate,oxalate, palmitate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3-phenylpropionate,phosphate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, stearate, succinate, sulfate,tartrate, thiocyanate, p-toluenesulfonate, undecanoate, valerate salts,and the like. Representative alkali or alkaline earth metal saltsinclude sodium, lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the like.Further pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, when appropriate,nontoxic ammonium, quaternary ammonium, and amine cations formed usingcounterions such as halide, hydroxide, carboxylate, sulfate, phosphate,nitrate, alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, sulfonate and arylsulfonate.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable ester” refers toesters which hydrolyze in vivo and include those that break down readilyin the human body to leave the parent compound or a salt thereof.Suitable ester groups include, for example, those derived frompharmaceutically acceptable aliphatic carboxylic acids, particularlyalkanoic, alkenoic, cycloalkanoic and alkanedioic acids, in which eachalkyl or alkenyl moiety advantageously has not more than 6 carbon atoms.Examples of particular esters include, but are not limited to, formates,acetates, propionates, butyrates, acrylates and ethylsuccinates.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs” as used herein refers tothose prodrugs of the compounds of the present invention which are,within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contactwith the tissues of humans and lower animals with undue toxicity,irritation, allergic response, and the like, commensurate with areasonable benefit/risk ratio, and effective for their intended use, aswell as the zwitterionic forms, where possible, of the compounds of thepresent invention. “Prodrug”, as used herein means a compound which isconvertible in vivo by metabolic means (e.g. by hydrolysis) to acompound of the invention. Various forms of prodrugs are known in theart, for example, as discussed in Bundgaard, (ed.), Design of Prodrugs,Elsevier (1985); Widder, et al. (ed.), Methods in Enzymology, vol. 4,Academic Press (1985); Krogsgaard-Larsen, et al., (ed.). “Design andApplication of Prodrugs, Textbook of Drug Design and Development,Chapter 5, 113-191 (1991); Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Drug DeliverReviews, 8:1-38 (1992); Bundgaard, J. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77:285et seq. (1988); Higuchi and Stella (eds.) Prodrugs as Novel DrugDelivery Systems, American Chemical Society (1975); and Bernard Testa &Joachim Mayer, “Hydrolysis In Drug And Prodrug Metabolism: Chemistry,Biochemistry And Enzymology,” John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. (2002).

The present invention also relates to solvates of the compounds ofFormula (I), for example hydrates.

This invention also encompasses pharmaceutical compositions containing,and methods of treating viral infections through administering,pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs of compounds of the invention. Forexample, compounds of the invention having free amino, amido, hydroxy orcarboxylic groups can be converted into prodrugs. Prodrugs includecompounds wherein an amino acid residue, or a polypeptide chain of twoor more (e.g., two, three or four) amino acid residues is covalentlyjoined through an amide or ester bond to a free amino, hydroxy orcarboxylic acid group of compounds of the invention. The amino acidresidues include but are not limited to the 20 naturally occurring aminoacids commonly designated by three letter symbols and also includes4-hydroxyproline, hydroxylysine, demosine, isodemosine,3-methylhistidine, norvalin, beta-alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid,citrulline, homocysteine, homoserine, ornithine and methionine sulfone.Additional types of prodrugs are also encompassed. For instance, freecarboxyl groups can be derivatized as amides or alkyl esters. Freehydroxy groups may be derivatized using groups including but not limitedto hemisuccinates, phosphate esters, dimethylaminoacetates, andphosphoryloxymethyloxycarbonyls, as outlined in Advanced Drug DeliveryReviews, 1996, 19, 115. Carbamate prodrugs of hydroxy and amino groupsare also included, as are carbonate prodrugs, sulfonate esters andsulfate esters of hydroxy groups. Derivatization of hydroxy groups as(acyloxy)methyl and (acyloxy)ethyl ethers wherein the acyl group may bean alkyl ester, optionally substituted with groups including but notlimited to ether, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities, or wherethe acyl group is an amino acid ester as described above, are alsoencompassed. Prodrugs of this type are described in J. Med. Chem. 1996,39, 10. Free amines can also be derivatized as amides, sulfonamides orphosphonamides. All of these prodrug moieties may incorporate groupsincluding but not limited to ether, amine and carboxylic acidfunctionalities.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise atherapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present inventionformulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptablecarriers or excipients.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier orexcipient” means a non-toxic, inert solid, semi-solid or liquid filler,diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type.Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceuticallyacceptable carriers are sugars such as lactose, glucose and sucrose;starches such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose and itsderivatives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose andcellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipientssuch as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils such as peanut oil,cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil andsoybean oil; glycols such as propylene glycol; esters such as ethyloleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents such as magnesiumhydroxide and aluminun hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water;isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol, and phosphate buffersolutions, as well as other non-toxic compatible lubricants such assodium lauryl sulfate and magnesium stearate, as well as coloringagents, releasing agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring andperfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants can also be present inthe composition, according to the judgment of the formulator.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administeredorally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally,buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir, preferably by oraladministration or administration by injection. The pharmaceuticalcompositions of this invention may contain any conventional non-toxicpharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants or vehicles. In somecases, the pH of the formulation may be adjusted with pharmaceuticallyacceptable acids, bases or buffers to enhance the stability of theformulated compound or its delivery form. The term parenteral as usedherein includes subcutaneous, intracutaneous, intravenous,intramuscular, intraarticular, intraarterial, intrasynovial,intrasternal, intrathecal, intralesional and intracranial injection orinfusion techniques.

Liquid dosage forms for oral administration include pharmaceuticallyacceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups andelixirs. In addition to the active compounds, the liquid dosage formsmay contain inert diluents commonly used in the art such as, forexample, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifierssuch as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethylacetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butyleneglycol, dimethylformamide, oils (in particular, cottonseed, groundnut,corn, germ, olive, castor, and sesame oils), glycerol,tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid estersof sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Besides inert diluents, the oralcompositions can also include adjuvants such as wetting agents,emulsifying and suspending agents, sweetening, flavoring, and perfumingagents.

Injectable preparations, for example, sterile injectable aqueous oroleaginous suspensions, may be formulated according to the known artusing suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. Thesterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectablesolution, suspension or emulsion in a nontoxic parenterally acceptablediluent or solvent, for example, as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Amongthe acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water,Ringer's solution, U.S.P. and isotonic sodium chloride solution. Inaddition, sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solventor suspending medium. For this purpose any bland fixed oil can beemployed including synthetic mono- or diglycerides. In addition, fattyacids such as oleic acid are used in the preparation of injectables.

The injectable formulations can be sterilized, for example, byfiltration through a bacterial-retaining filter, or by incorporatingsterilizing agents in the form of sterile solid compositions which canbe dissolved or dispersed in sterile water or other sterile injectablemedium prior to use.

In order to prolong the effect of a drug, it is often desirable to slowthe absorption of the drug from subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.This may be accomplished by the use of a liquid suspension ofcrystalline or amorphous material with poor water solubility. The rateof absorption of the drug then depends upon its rate of dissolution,which, in turn, may depend upon crystal size and crystalline form.Alternatively, delayed absorption of a parenterally administered drugform is accomplished by dissolving or suspending the drug in an oilvehicle. Injectable depot forms are made by forming microencapsulematrices of the drug in biodegradable polymers such aspolylactide-polyglycolide. Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymerand the nature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drugrelease can be controlled. Examples of other biodegradable polymersinclude poly(orthoesters) and poly(anhydrides). Depot injectableformulations are also prepared by entrapping the drug in liposomes ormicroemulsions that are compatible with body tissues.

Compositions for rectal or vaginal administration are preferablysuppositories which can be prepared by mixing the compounds of thisinvention with suitable non-irritating excipients or carriers such ascocoa butter, polyethylene glycol or a suppository wax which are solidat ambient temperature but liquid at body temperature and therefore meltin the rectum or vaginal cavity and release the active compound.

Solid dosage forms for oral administration include capsules, tablets,pills, powders, and granules. In such solid dosage forms, the activecompound is mixed with at least one inert, pharmaceutically acceptableexcipient or carrier such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphateand/or: a) fillers or extenders such as starches, lactose, sucrose,glucose, mannitol, and silicic acid, b) binders such as, for example,carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinylpyrrolidinone,sucrose, and acacia, c) humectants such as glycerol, d) disintegratingagents such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch,alginic acid, certain silicates, and sodium carbonate, e) solutionretarding agents such as paraffin, f) absorption accelerators such asquaternary ammonium compounds, g) wetting agents such as, for example,cetyl alcohol and glycerol monostearate, h) absorbents such as kaolinand bentonite clay, and i) lubricants such as talc, calcium stearate,magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate,and mixtures thereof. In the case of capsules, tablets and pills, thedosage form may also comprise buffering agents.

Solid compositions of a similar type may also be employed as fillers insoft and hard-filled gelatin capsules using such excipients as lactoseor milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols andthe like.

The solid dosage forms of tablets, dragees, capsules, pills, andgranules can be prepared with coatings and shells such as entericcoatings and other coatings well known in the pharmaceutical formulatingart. They may optionally contain opacifying agents and can also be of acomposition that they release the active ingredient(s) only, orpreferentially, in a certain part of the intestinal tract, optionally,in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions that can be usedinclude polymeric substances and waxes.

Dosage forms for topical or transdermal administration of a compound ofthis invention include ointments, pastes, creams, lotions, gels,powders, solutions, sprays, inhalants or patches. The active componentis admixed under sterile conditions with a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier and any needed preservatives or buffers as may be required.Ophthalmic formulation, ear drops, eye ointments, powders and solutionsare also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention.

The ointments, pastes, creams and gels may contain, in addition to anactive compound of this invention, excipients such as animal andvegetable fats, oils, waxes, paraffins, starch, tragacanth, cellulosederivatives, polyethylene glycols, silicones, bentonites, silicic acid,talc and zinc oxide, or mixtures thereof.

Powders and sprays can contain, in addition to the compounds of thisinvention, excipients such as lactose, talc, silicic acid, aluminumhydroxide, calcium silicates and polyamide powder, or mixtures of thesesubstances. Sprays can additionally contain customary propellants suchas chlorofluorohydrocarbons.

Transdermal patches have the added advantage of providing controlleddelivery of a compound to the body. Such dosage forms can be made bydissolving or dispensing the compound in the proper medium. Absorptionenhancers can also be used to increase the flux of the compound acrossthe skin. The rate can be controlled by either providing a ratecontrolling membrane or by dispersing the compound in a polymer matrixor gel.

For pulmonary delivery, a therapeutic composition of the invention isformulated and administered to the patient in solid or liquidparticulate form by direct administration e.g., inhalation into therespiratory system. Solid or liquid particulate forms of the activecompound prepared for practicing the present invention include particlesof respirable size: that is, particles of a size sufficiently small topass through the mouth and larynx upon inhalation and into the bronchiand alveoli of the lungs. Delivery of aerosolized therapeutics,particularly aerosolized antibiotics, is known in the art (see, forexample U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,068 to VanDevanter et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,508,269 to Smith et al., and WO 98/43650 by Montgomery, all of whichare incorporated herein by reference). A discussion of pulmonarydelivery of antibiotics is also found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,969,incorporated herein by reference.

Antiviral Activity

An inhibitory amount or dose of the compounds of the present inventionmay range from about 0.01 mg/Kg to about 500 mg/Kg, alternatively fromabout 1 to about 50 mg/Kg. Inhibitory amounts or doses will also varydepending on route of administration, as well as the possibility ofco-usage with other agents.

According to the methods of treatment of the present invention, viralinfections, conditions are treated or prevented in a patient such as ahuman or another animal by administering to the patient atherapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention, in suchamounts and for such time as is necessary to achieve the desired result.

By a “therapeutically effective amount” of a compound of the inventionis meant an amount of the compound which confers a therapeutic effect onthe treated subject, at a reasonable benefit/risk ratio applicable toany medical treatment. The therapeutic effect may be objective (i.e.,measurable by some test or marker) or subjective (i.e., subject gives anindication of or feels an effect). An effective amount of the compounddescribed above may range from about 0.1 mg/Kg to about 500 mg/Kg,preferably from about 1 to about 50 mg/Kg. Effective doses will alsovary depending on route of administration, as well as the possibility ofco-usage with other agents. It will be understood, however, that thetotal daily usage of the compounds and compositions of the presentinvention will be decided by the attending physician within the scope ofsound medical judgment. The specific therapeutically effective doselevel for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factorsincluding the disorder being treated and the severity of the disorder;the activity of the specific compound employed; the specific compositionemployed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of thepatient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rateof excretion of the specific compound employed; the duration of thetreatment; drugs used in combination or contemporaneously with thespecific compound employed; and like factors well known in the medicalarts.

The total daily dose of the compounds of this invention administered toa human or other animal in single or in divided doses can be in amounts,for example, from 0.01 to 50 mg/kg body weight or more usually from 0.1to 25 mg/kg body weight. Single dose compositions may contain suchamounts or submultiples thereof to make up the daily dose. In general,treatment regimens according to the present invention compriseadministration to a patient in need of such treatment from about 10 mgto about 1000 mg of the compound(s) of this invention per day in singleor multiple doses.

The compounds of the present invention described herein can, forexample, be administered by injection, intravenously, intraarterially,subdermally, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously; ororally, buccally, nasally, transmucosally, topically, in an ophthalmicpreparation, or by inhalation, with a dosage ranging from about 0.1 toabout 500 mg/kg of body weight, alternatively dosages between 1 mg and1000 mg/dose, every 4 to 120 hours, or according to the requirements ofthe particular drug. The methods herein contemplate administration of aneffective amount of compound or compound composition to achieve thedesired or stated effect. Typically, the pharmaceutical compositions ofthis invention will be administered from about 1 to about 6 times perday or alternatively, as a continuous infusion. Such administration canbe used as a chronic or acute therapy. The amount of active ingredientthat may be combined with pharmaceutically exipients or carriers toproduce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treatedand the particular mode of administration. A typical preparation willcontain from about 5% to about 95% active compound (w/w). Alternatively,such preparations may contain from about 20% to about 80% activecompound.

Lower or higher doses than those recited above may be required. Specificdosage and treatment regimens for any particular patient will dependupon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specificcompound employed, the age, body weight, general health status, sex,diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, theseverity and course of the disease, condition or symptoms, the patient'sdisposition to the disease, condition or symptoms, and the judgment ofthe treating physician.

Upon improvement of a patient's condition, a maintenance dose of acompound, composition or combination of this invention may beadministered, if necessary. Subsequently, the dosage or frequency ofadministration, or both, may be reduced, as a function of the symptoms,to a level at which the improved condition is retained when the symptomshave been alleviated to the desired level. Patients may, however,require intermittent treatment on a long-term basis upon any recurrenceof disease symptoms.

When the compositions of this invention comprise a combination of acompound of the invention and one or more additional therapeutic orprophylactic agents, both the compound and the additional agent shouldbe present at dosage levels of between about 1 to 100%, and morepreferably between about 5 to 95% of the dosage normally administered ina monotherapy regimen. The additional agents may be administeredseparately, as part of a multiple dose regimen, from the compounds ofthis invention. Alternatively, those agents may be part of a singledosage form, mixed together with the compounds of this invention in asingle composition.

The said “additional therapeutic or prophylactic agents” include, butare not limited to, immune therapies (e.g. interferon), therapeuticvaccines, antifibrotic agents, anti-inflammatory agents such ascorticosteroids or NSAIDs, bronchodilators such as beta-2 adrenergicagonists and xanthines (e.g. theophylline), mucolytic agents,anti-muscarinics, anti-leukotrienes, inhibitors of cell adhesion (e.g.ICAM antagonists), anti-oxidants (e.g. N-acetylcysteine), cytokineagonists, cytokine antagonists, lung surfactants and/or antimicrobialand anti-viral agents (e.g. ribavirin and amantidine). The compositionsaccording to the invention may also be used in combination with genereplacement therapy.

Combination and Alternation Therapy for HCV

It has been recognized that drug-resistant variants of HCV can emergeafter prolonged treatment with an antiviral agent. Drug resistance mosttypically occurs by mutation of a gene that encodes for a protein suchas an enzyme used in viral replication, and most typically in the caseof HCV, RNA polymerase, protease, or helicase.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that the efficacy of a drug against aviral infection, such as HIV, can be prolonged, augmented, or restoredby administering the drug in combination or alternation with a second,and perhaps third, antiviral compound that induces a different mutationfrom that caused by the principal drug. Alternatively, thepharmacokinetics, biodistribution, or other parameter of the drug can bealtered by such combination or alternation therapy. In general,combination therapy is typically preferred over alternation therapybecause it induces multiple simultaneous stresses on the virus.

A compound of the present invention can also be administered incombination or alternation with antiviral agent. Examplary antiviralagents include ribavarin, interferon, interleukin or a stabilizedprodrug of any of them. More broadly described, the compound can beadministered in combination or alternation with any of the anti-HCVdrugs listed in Table 10 below.

TABLE 10 Table of anti-Hepatitis C Compounds in Current ClinicalDevelopment Drug name Drug category Pharmaceutical Company PEGASYS Longacting interferon Roche pegylated interferon alfa-2a INFERGEN Longacting interferon InterMune interferon alfacon-1 OMNIFERON Long actinginterferon Viragen natural interferon ALBUFERON Long acting interferonHuman Genome Sciences REBIF Interferon Ares-Serono interferon beta-laOmega Interferon Interferon BioMedicine Oral Interferon alpha OralInterferon Amarillo Biosciences Interferon gamma-lb Anti-fibroticInterMune IP-501 Anti-fibrotic InterMune Merimebodib VX-497 IMPDHinhibitor Vertex (inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase) AMANTADINE BroadAntiviral Agent Endo Labs (Symmetrel) Solvay IDN-6556 Apotosisregulation Idun Pharma. XTL-002 Monclonal Antibody XTL HCV/MF59 VaccineChiron CIVACIR Polyclonal Antibody NABI Therapeutic vaccine InnogeneticsVIRAMIDINE Nucleoside Analogue ICN ZADAXIN (thymosin alfa-1)Immunomodulator Sci Clone CEPLENE (histamine) Immunomodulator Maxim VX950/LY 570310 Protease inhibitor Vertex/Eli Lilly ISIS 14803 AntisenseIsis Pharmaceutical/Elan IDN-6556 Caspase inhibitor Idun PharmaceuticalsJTK 003 Polymerase Inhibitor AKROS Pharma Tarvacin Anti-PhospholipidTherapy Peregrine HCV-796 Polymerase Inhibitor ViroPharma/Wyeth CH-6Protease inhibitor Schering ANA971 Isatoribine ANADYS ANA245 IsatoribineANADYS CPG 10101 (Actilon) Immunomodulator Coley Rituximab (Rituxam)Anti-CD2O Genetech/IDEC Monoclonal Antibody NM283 (Valopicitabine)Polymerase Inhibitor Idenix Pharmaceuticals HEPX ™-C Monoclonal AntibodyXTL IC41 Therapeutic Vaccine Intercell Medusa Interferon Longer actinginterferon Flamel Technology E-1 Therapeutic Vaccine InnogeneticsMultiferon Long Acting Interferon Viragen BILN 2061 Protease inhibitorBoehringer-Ingelheim TMC435350 Protease inhibitor Tibotec/MedivirTelaprevir (VX-950) Protease inhibitor Vertex Boceprevir (SCH 503034)Protease inhibitor Schering-Plough ACH-1625 Protease inhibitor AchillionABT-450 Protease inhibitor Abbott/Enanta BI-201335 Protease inhibitorBoehringer-Ingelheim PHX-1766 Protease inhibitor Phenomix VX-500Protease inhibitor Vertex MK-7009 protease inhibitor Merck R7227(ITMN-191) protease inhibitor InterMune Narlaprevir (SCH 900518)Protease inhibitor Schering/Merck Alinia (nitazoxanide) To be determinedRomark ABT-072 Polymerase Inhibitor Abbott ABT-333 Polymerase InhibitorAbbott Filibuvir (PF-00868554) Polymerase Inhibitor Pfizer VCH-916Polymerase Inhibitor Vertex R7128 (PSI6130) Polymerase InhibitorRoche/Pharmasset IDX184 Polymerase Inhibitor Idenix R1626 Polymeraseinhibitor Roche MK-3281 Polymerase inhibitor Merck PSI-7851 Polymeraseinhibitor Pharmasset ANA598 Polymerase inhibitor Anadys PharmaceuticalsBI-207127 Polymerase inhibitor Boehringer-Ingelheim GS-9190 Polymeraseinhibitor Gilead VCH-759 Polymerase Inhibitor Vertex Clemizole NS4Binhibitor Eiger Biopharmaceuticals A-832 NS5A inhibitorArrowTherapeutics BMS-790052 NS5A inhibitor Bristol-Myers-Squibb ITX5061Entry inhibitor iTherx GS-9450 Caspase inhibitor Gilead ANA773 TLRagonist Anadys CYT107 immunomodulator Cytheris SPC3649(LNA-ANTIMIR ™-122) microRNA Santaris Pharma Debio 025 Cyclophilininhibitor Debiopharm SCY-635 Cyclophilin inhibitor Scynexis

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinare accorded the meaning commonly known to one of ordinary skill in theart. All publications, patents, published patent applications, and otherreferences mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations which may be used in the descriptions of the scheme andthe examples that follow are: Ac for acetyl; AcOH for acetic acid; AIBNfor azobisisobutyronitrile; BINAP for2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl; Boc₂O fordi-tert-butyl-dicarbonate; Boc for t-butoxycarbonyl; Bpoc for1-methyl-1-(4-biphenylyl)ethyl carbonyl; BtOH for1-hydroxy-benzotriazole; Bz for benzoyl; Bn for benzyl; BocNHOH fortert-butyl N-hydroxycarbamate;

-   t-BuOK for potassium tert-butoxide; Bu₃SnH for tributyltin hydride;    BOP for (benzotriazol-1-yloxy)tris(dimethylamino)phos-phonium    Hexafluorophosphate; Brine for sodium chloride solution in water;    Cbz for carbobenzyloxy; CDI for carbonyldiimidazole; CH₂Cl₂ for    dichloromethane; CH₃ for methyl; CH₃CN for acetonitrile; Cs₂CO₃ for    cesium carbonate; CuCl for copper (I) chloride; CuI for copper (I)    iodide; dba for dibenzylidene acetone; dppb for diphenylphosphino    butane; DBU for 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; DCC for    N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide; DEAD for diethylazodicarboxylate;    DIAD for diisopropyl azodicarboxylate; DIBAL-H for    diisobutylaluminium hydride; DIPEA or (i-Pr)₂EtN for    N,N-diisopropylethyl amine; Dess-Martin periodinane for    1,1,1-tris(acetyloxy)-1,1-dihydro-1,2-benziodoxol-3-(1H)-one; DMAP    for 4-dimethylaminopyridine; DME for 1,2-dimethoxy-ethane; DMF for    N,N-dimethylformamide; DMSO for dimethyl sulfoxide; DMT for    di(p-methoxyphenyl)phenylmethyl or dimethoxytrityl; DPPA for    diphenylphosphoryl azide; EDC for    N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide; EDC HCl for    N-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride; EtOAc    for ethyl acetate; EtOH for ethanol; Et₂O for diethyl ether; Fmoc    for 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl; Grubbs-1 catalyst for    benzylidene-bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)dichlororuthenium; HATU for    O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium    hexafluorophosphate; HCl for hydrogen chloride; HOBT for    1-hydroxybenzotriazole; K₂CO₃ for potassium carbonate; n-BuLi for    n-butyl lithium; i-BuLi for i-butyl lithium; t-BuLi for t-butyl    lithium; PhLi for phenyl lithium; LDA for lithium diisopropylamide;    LiTMP for lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinate; MeOH for    methanol; Mg for magnesium; MOM for methoxymethyl; Ms for mesyl or    —SO₂—CH₃; Ms₂O for methanesulfonic anhydride or mesyl-anhydride;    NaBH₄ for sodium borohydride; NaBH₃CN for sodium cyanoborohydride;    NaN(TMS)₂ for sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide; NaCl for sodium    chloride; NaH for sodium hydride; NaHCO₃ for sodium bicarbonate or    sodium hydrogen carbonate; Na₂CO₃ sodium carbonate; NaOH for sodium    hydroxide; Na₂SO₄ for sodium sulfate; NaHSO₃ for sodium bisulfite or    sodium hydrogen sulfite; Na₂S₂O₃ for sodium thiosulfate; NH₂NH₂ for    hydrazine; NH₄HCO₃ for ammonium bicarbonate; NH₄Cl for ammonium    chloride; NMMO for N-methylmorpholine N-oxide; NaIO₄ for sodium    periodate; Ni for nickel; OH for hydroxyl; OSO₄ for osmium    tetroxide; Pd for palladium; Ph for phenyl; PMB for p-methoxybenzyl;    POPd for dihydrogen    dichlorobis(di-tert-butylphosphinito-κP)palladate(II); Pd₂(dba)₃ for    tris(dibenzylidene-acetone) dipalladium (0); Pd(PPh₃)₄ for    tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0); PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ for    trans-dichlorobis(triphenyl-phosphine)palladium (II); Pt for    platinum; Rh for rhodium; rt for romm temperature; Ru for ruthenium;    SEM for (trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl; TBAF for tetrabutylammonium    fluoride; TBS for tert-butyl dimethylsilyl; TEA or Et₃N for    triethylamine; Teoc for 2-trimethylsilyl-ethoxy-carbonyl; TFA for    trifluoroacetic acid; THF for tetrahydrofuran; TMEDA for    N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine; TPP or PPh₃ for    triphenyl-phosphine; Troc for 2,2,2-trichloroethyl carbonyl; Ts for    tosyl or —SO₂—C₆H₄—CH₃; Ts₂O for tolylsulfonic anhydride or    tosyl-anhydride; TsOH for p-tolylsulfonic acid; TMS for    trimethylsilyl; or TMSC1 for trimethylsilyl chloride.

Synthetic Methods

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be betterunderstood in connection with the following synthetic schemes thatillustrate the methods by which the compounds of the invention may beprepared. Starting materials can be obtained from commercial sources orprepared by well-established literature methods known to those ofordinary skill in the art. It will be readily apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that the compounds defined above can besynthesized by substitution of the appropriate reactants and agents inthe syntheses shown below. It will also be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art that the selective protection and deprotection steps,as well as the order of the steps themselves, can be carried out invarying order, depending on the nature of the variables to successfullycomplete the syntheses below. The variables are as defined above unlessotherwise noted below.

The compounds of the present invention may be prepared via severaldifferent synthetic routes from a variety of benzimidazole and imidazolerelated intermediates. A retro-synthesis of those title compoundsinclude direct formation of a suitably linked benzimidazole andimidazole core structure followed by attachment of a suitable R⁶ group,plus some functional group manipulations in between and/or after.

A general synthesis and further elaboration of some benzimidazolerelated intermediates are summarized in Scheme 1.

The synthesis starts from the construction of an optionally substitutedbenzimidazole 1-2, which may be obtained by condensation of an aminoacid or its derivative 1-1.1 or 1-1.2 and an o-phenylenediamine 1-1under the conditions to those skilled in the art. The benzimidazole ringclosure may be realized either in one pot by heat, optionally in thepresence of an acid and/or with a dehydration reagent such aspolyphosphoric acid; or in two steps: 1) amide formation between diamine1-1 and amino acid 1-1.1 or 1-1.2 in the presence of a condensationreagent such as EDC HCl, DCC or the like; or through mixed anhydrideapproach by reacting acid 1-1.1 or 1-1.2 with a chloroformate such asmethyl chloroformate, isobutyl chloroformate, or the like, in thepresence of a base such as TEA, DIPEA, DMAP, N-methylmorpholine, or thelike, followed by treating the mixed anhydride with diamine 1-1; and 2)the heterocyclic ring closure in the presence of an acid such as aceticacid, sulfuric acid or the like or a dehydration reagent such as HATU orthe like, optionally with heat.

Optionally, the NH group in the newly formed benzimidazole ring of 1-2may be protected with an amino protecting group, such as SEM (i.e.SEM-Cl, NaH), Boc, Cbz, Teoc, Troc, or the like. The protectedbenzimidazole 1-2 may be subjected to lithium-halogen exchange withvarious (n-, s-, or t-) butyl lithium and the resulting lithiate can betrapped with a nucleophile, i.e. a halide such as various allyl halideto give the allylated 1-6 as a key intermediate. Alternatively, 1-6 maybe obtained from the Stille reaction conditions to those skilled in theart (see reviews: A. Anastasia, et al, Handbook of OrganopalladiumChemistry for Organic Synthesis 2002, 1, 311; F. Bellina, et al,Synthesis 2004, 2419; M. G. Organ, et al, Synthesis 2008, 2776; A. T.Lindhardt, et al, Chem.-A European J. 2008, 14, 8756; E. A. B. Kantchev,et al, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 2768; V. Farina, et al, Advancesin Metal-Organic Chem. 1996, 5, 1), using an allylstanne such asallyltributylstanne as the allyl donor. Analogously a key vinylintermediates 1-3 may be prepared by Stille reaction from bromide 1-2with tributylvinylstanne. Also, Sonogashira coupling between bromide 1-2and propargyl alcohol or trimethylsilylacetylene can generate propargylalcohol 1-4 or alkyne 1-5 after removal of TMS. Further bromination ofintermediate 1-4 may form the propargyl bromide 1-9. In addition,benzimidazole bromide 1-2 may be converted to methyl ketone 1-7 bycoupling with tributyl(1-ethoxyvinyl)tin under Stille couplingconditions followed by acidic hydrolysis.

Further elaboration of the benzimidazole intermediates starts from thevinyl intermediate 1-3, which may be transformed to aldehyde 1-8 throughozonolysis cleavage or to alcohol 1-12 by hydroboration-oxidationsequence. Alcohol 1-12 may be converted to bromide 1-15 by thewell-known bromination procedure, which can be further functionalized toamine 1-20 through azide substitution followed by reduction. Aldehyde1-8 can then either be reduced to alcohol 1-11, or be converted to α,β-unsaturated acid 1-10 through Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons aldehydehomologation reaction followed by saponification. Alcohol 1-11 may besimilarly converted to the corresponding amine intermediate 1-14 andbromide intermediate 1-13 as described previously. Bromide 1-13 can behomologated to alkyne intermediate 1-19 with a metal acetylide. Inaddition, bromide 1-13 may be also transformed to thiol 1-16 throughnucleophilic substitution, which can be further oxidized to sulfonicacid 1-17. Sulfonamide 1-18 may then be derived from 1-17 through thesulfonyl chloride activation process.

The compounds of the present invention may also be derived fromnitrobenzimidazole 1-21, which can be prepared from the corresponding4-nitro-1,2-diaminobenzene using the similar procedures described above.Intermediate 1-21 can be converted to amine 1-22 through NO₂-reduction(i.e. H₂, catalytical Pd). Diazotization of amine 1-22 with a nitritesuch as sodium nitrite, isobutyl nitrite, or the like, in an aqueousacid such as acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, or the like,optionally in the presence of a copper or copper salt, may affordhydroxy 1-23.

Analogously, benzimidazolecarboxylate 1-24, which can be prepared fromthe corresponding 4-methyl-1,2-diaminobenzoate using the proceduresdescribed above, may be hydrolyzed to the corresponding carboxylic acid1-25.

It should be noted that optionally the NH group of all the benzimidazolerelated intermediates listed above may be protected with an aminoprotecting group, such as SEM (i.e. SEM-Cl, NaH), Boc, Cbz, Teoc, Troc,or the like.

A typical synthesis of imidazole related intermediates are analogous tothat of the benzimidazole intermediates. As shown in Scheme 2,bromo-imidazole 2-4 can be synthesized in a three-step sequence: 1)condensation between amino acid derived aldehyde 2-1.1 or 2-1.2 andglyoxal 2-1.3 in the presence of methanolic ammonia to generateimidazole 2-2; 2) bromination of 2-2 with excess amount of brominationreagent such as 2,4,4,6-tetrabromo-2,5-cyclohexadienone, NBS, etc. toafford dibromide 2-3; and 3) selective reduction of the dibromide 2-3 byheating in aq. Na₂SO₃ or aq. NaHSO₃. 2-4 then may be served as auniversal intermediate further elaborable to many other imidazolederivatives using the chemistry discussed in Scheme 1, some of which arelisted in the table below.

Optionally, the NH group of imidazole related intermediates listed abovemay be protected with an amino protecting group (shown in Scheme 2 asPG), such as SEM (i.e. SEM-Cl, NaH), Boc, Cbz, Teoc, Troc, or the like.The protected imidazole 2-5 may be deprotonated with a strong base suchas LDA, BuLi, etc to generate a carbon anion, which may either undergo anucleophilic substitution with an activated halide such as 2-5.2 toafford aryl or heteroaryl substituted imidazole 2-6 or couple with anaryl or heteroaryl halide 2-5.1 in the presence appropriate transitionmetal salt to generate bicyclic heteroaryl 2-7. Similarly, the protectedbromo imidazole 2-8 may be subjected to lithium-halogen exchange withvarious (n-, s-, or t-) butyl lithium, the resulting lithiate mayundergo similar reactions to afford 2-6 and 2-7. Also, when 2-8 istreated with metalated aryl or heteroaryl 2-8.1, in which M at eachoccurrence is independently a boron, tin, silicon, zinc, zirconium, orcopper species, under Suzuki or Stille conditions to those skilled inthe art (see reviews: A. Suzuki, Pure Applied Chem. 1991, 63, 419; A.Suzuki, Handbook of Organopalladium Chemistry for Organic Synthesis2002, 1, 249; A. Anastasia, et al, Handbook of Organopalladium Chemistryfor Organic Synthesis 2002, 1, 311; F. Bellina, et al, Synthesis 2004,2419; M. G. Organ, et al, Synthesis 2008, 2776; A. T. Lindhardt, et al,Chem.-A European J. 2008, 14, 8756; E. A. B. Kantchev, et al, Angew.Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 2768; V. Farina, et al, Advances inMetal-Organic Chem. 1996, 5, 1), to provide coupling product 2-7. Inaddition to these direct coupling strategy, aryl or heteroaryl bromide2-5.1 may be converted to methyl ketone 2-9 under Stille couplingconditions with tributyl(1-ethoxyvinyl)tin 2-9.1. 2-9 may be brominatedunder conditions to those skilled in the art to afford bromide 2-10,which may be either converted to the corresponding amine 2-11, orcoupled with protected amino acid 2-10.1 or 2-10.2 in the presence of abase such as Et₃N and DIPEA to afford keto-ester 2-12. Similarly, amine2-11 may be converted to the corresponding keto-amide 2-13 viacondensation with appropriate amino acid under standard amide formationconditions. 2-12 and 2-13 may be transformed to key intermediate 2-14via heating with (NH₄)OAc under thermal or microwave conditions.

With a variety of suitably substituted benzimidazoles and imidazoles inhand, such as those listed in Scheme 1, Scheme 2 and the table above,the compounds of the present invention may be prepared through variouscoupling strategy or a combination of strategies to connect twofragments, optionally with a suitable cyclic or acyclic linker orformation of a cyclic or acyclic linker. The said strategy includes, butnot limited to, Stille coupling, Suzuki coupling, Sonogashira coupling,Heck coupling, Buchwald amidation, Buchwald amination, amide coupling,ester bond formation, William etherification, Buchwald etherification,alkylation, pericyclic reaction with different variations, or the like.

An example of the strategies that may be used to prepare the compoundsof the present invention is shown in Scheme 3, wherein R² isindependently R¹. Both bromides 3-1 and 3-2 can be prepared using theprocedures described in Scheme 1 and Scheme 2. Bromide 3-2 can beconverted to the corresponding metalated aryl 3-3 under Suzuki or Stilleconditions, which may be further coupled with benzimidazole bromide 2-1under similar conditions to generate a structural core 3-4.

Compound 3-4 may then serve as a common intermediate for furtherderivatizations to 3-5 in two steps: 1) mono-deprotection of the linearor cyclic amine moiety may be accomplished, for example, treatment tohydrogenolytic conditions under Pd catalyst in the presence of a basesuch as potassium carbonate to remove the Cbz protection group; and 2)the released amine functionality may be acylated with an carboxylic acidunder standard acylation conditions, for example a coupling reagent suchas HATU in combination with an organic base such as DIPEA can be used inthis regard; alternatively, the released amine may be reacted with anisocyanate, carbamoyl chloride or chloroformate to provide an urea orcarbamate. Various carboxylic acids including amino acids in racemic oroptical form are commercially available, and/or can be synthesized inracemic or optical form, see references cited in reviews by D. Seebach,et al, Synthesis 2009, 1; C. Cativiela and M. D. Diaz-de-Villegas,Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2007, 18, 569; 2000, 11, 645; and 1998, 9, 3517;and experimental examples compiled in patent application WO2008/021927A2 by C. Bachand, et al, from BMS, which is incorporatedherein by reference. 3-5 may be further deprotected under hydrolyticconditions in the presence of an acid such as TFA or hydrogen chlorideto remove the Boc protection group and the released amine functionalitycan be further derivatized to the title compounds I-1 using theconditions described above.

Other examples of some of the linkers that can be used to construct thetitle compounds of the present invention are compiled in the tablebelow, in which PG and PG' at each occurrence are each independentlyamino or alcohol protecting group, such as Boc, Cbz, Troc, Teoc, PMB,TMS etc. These linkers are either commercially available or may besynthesized in several steps through strategies which are known to thoseskilled in the art.

Alternatively, as shown in Scheme 4, the compounds of the presentinvention (for example I-1) may also be derived from bromobenzimidazoles4-1 and imidazole 4-2 using the procedures described previously. Theintermediates 4-1 and 4-2 have the desired acyl groups already installedas seen in amino acid derivatives 2-10.1b and 2-10.2b, which can beprepared from protected amino acids 2-10.1a and 2-10.2a through thesequences shown in Scheme 1 and 2.

The compounds of the present invention containing benzimidazole linkedwith other five-membered heteroaryl other than imidazole may be preparedusing similar procedures described above in Schemes 1-4. For example,some intermediates containing a desired, suitably substitutedfive-membered heteroaryl have been published in US 2008/0311075A1 by C.Bachand, et al from BMS, which is incorporated by reference. Thesesintermediates are compiled in the following table.

It will be appreciated that, with appropriate manipulation andprotection of any chemical functionality, synthesis of compounds ofFormula (I) is accomplished by methods analogous to those above and tothose described in the Experimental section. Suitable protecting groupscan be found, but are not restricted to, those found in T W Greene and PG M Wuts “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, 3rd Ed (1999), JWiley and Sons.

All references cited herein, whether in print, electronic, computerreadable storage media or other form, are expressly incorporated byreference in their entirety, including but not limited to, abstracts,articles, journals, publications, texts, treatises, internet web sites,databases, patents, and patent publications.

EXAMPLES

The compounds and processes of the present invention will be betterunderstood in connection with the following examples, which are intendedas an illustration only and not limiting of the scope of the invention.Various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiments will beapparent to those skilled in the art and such changes and modificationsincluding, without limitation, those relating to the chemicalstructures, substituents, derivatives, formulations and/or methods ofthe invention may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Although the invention has been described with respect to variouspreferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto, butrather those skilled in the art will recognize that variations andmodifications may be made therein which are within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1

Step 1a. A mixture of N-Boc-L-proline (5.754 g, 26.7 mmol) and TEA (3.73mL, 26.7 mmol) in THF (60 mL) at −20° C. was treated with ethylchloroformate (2.55 mL, 26.7 mmol) for 30 minutes before a slow additionof 4-bromo-1,2-diaminobenzene (5.00 g, 26.7 mmol) in THF (20 mL). It wasthen kept at −20° C. for 1 hour and then slowly warmed up to rt andstirred at rt overnight. The volatiles were evaporated and the residuewas partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give the crude desiredcompound as a dark brown foam (10.7 g). ESIMS m/z=384.18, 386.18 [M+H]⁺.

Step 1b. A solution of the crude compound from step 1a (10.7 g, 26.7mmol at most) in glacial acetic acid (100 mL) was heated at 50° C. for 2hours. The volatiles were evaporated off and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics were washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified bychromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desiredcompound as a brown foam (5.78 g, 59%). ESIMS m/z=366.17, 368.17 [M+H]⁺.¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 10.96, 10.93 (2 s, 1H), 7.81, 7.30 (2 s, 1H), 7.53, 7.17(2d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 7.23, 7.03 (2d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 5.09, 5.07 (2s, 1H),3.42-3.49 (m, 2H), 2.75-2.85 (m, 1H), 2.13-2.23 (m, 2H), 1.97-2.00 (m,1H), 1.48 (s, 9H).

Step 1c. A mixture of 2,4′-dibromoacetophenone (5.00 g, 18.0 mmol),N-Boc-L-proline (3.87 g, 18.0 mmol) and in CH₃CN (60 mL) was treatedwith TEA (5.40 mL, 37.8 mmol) at room temperature until thedisappearance of the starting material. The volatiles were evaporatedand the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washedwith brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue waspurified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give thedesired compound as a light yellow foam (6.73 g, 91%). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃)7.76 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.63 (dd, J=5.0, 8.5 Hz, 2H), 5.51, 5.16 (2d,J=16.0 Hz, 1H), 5.32, 5.28 (2d, J=16.5 Hz, 1H), 4.48, 4.40 (dd, J=5.0,8.5 Hz, 1H), 3.56 (m, 1H), 3.43 (m, 1H), 2.30 (m, 2H), 2.06 (m, 1H),1.92 (m, 1H), 1.46, 1.43 (2s, 9H).

Step 1d. A solution of the compound from step 1c (6.73 g, 16.3 mmol) intoluene (100 mL) was treated with ammonium acetate (25.1 g, 0.327 mol)at 100° C. for 14 hours. The volatiles were evaporated and the residuewas partitioned (EtOAc-aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics were washed withbrine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purifiedby chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desiredcompound as a yellow foam (6.10 g, 95%). ESIMS m/z=392.24, 394.24[M+H]⁺. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 7.57 (bs, 1H), 7.48 (m, 3H), 7.23 (s, 1H), 4.97(m, 1H), 3.42 (m, 2H), 2.99 (m, 1H), 2.16 (m, 2H), 1.97 (m, 1H), 1.46(s, 9H).

Step 1e. A mixture of the compound from step 1d (1.00 g, 2.55 mmol),bis(pinacolato) diboron (1.35 g, 5.33 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.147 g, 0.128mmol) and potassium acetate (0.640 g, 6.53 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (20 mL)was degassed and heated at 80° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. The volatileswere evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). Theorganics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a light yellowsolid (0.978 g, 87%). ESIMS m/z=440.39 [M+H]⁺. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 11.03,10.55 (2s, 1H), 7.79 (m, 3H), 7.45 (m, 1H), 7.26 (m, 1H), 4.97 (m, 1H),3.41 (m, 2H), 3.06, 2.91 (2m, 1H), 2.17 (m, 2H), 1.97 (m, 1H), 1.49 (s,9H), 1.35 (s, 12H).

Step 1f. A mixture of compound from step 1b (0.188 g, 0.512 mmol), thecompound from step 1e (0.150 g, 0.342 mmol) Pd(PPh₃)₄, (39.4 mg, 34.1μmmol) and NaHCO₃ (0.115 g, 1.37 mmol) in DME (6 mL) and H₂O (2 mL) wasdegassed and heated at 80° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. The volatiles wereevaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O). The organicswere washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. Theresidue was purified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate)to give the title compound as a white needle crystal (0.106 g, 52%).ESIMS m/z=599.59 [M+H]⁺.

Example 2

Step 2a. A solution of the compound of example 1 (20.0 mg, 33.4 μmmol)in 1,4-dioxane (1 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M, 4 mL) atrt for 30 minutes. The volatiles were evaporated off to give the crudedesired compound as a yellow solid which was directly used in the nextstep. ESIMS m/z=399.35 [M+H]⁺.

Step 2b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 2a (33.4 μmmol atmost) and (R)-(methoxycarbonyl)amino phenyl acetic acid (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 20.9 mg, 0.100 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) wastreated with HATU (31.7 mg, 83.5 μmmol) in the presence of DIPEA (83.0μL, 0.668 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated offto provide a brown syrup. It was purified by chromatography (silica,CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as a yellow solid (23.8 mg, 2steps 91%). ESIMS m/z=781.67 [M+H]⁺.

Example 1-1

Step 1-1a. A mixture of the compound from step 1d (0.559 g, 1.425 mmol),trimethylsilyl-acetylene (0.60 ml, 4.275 mmol), CuI (28.5 mg, 0.150mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ (80.0 mg, 0.114 mmol) in Et₃N (15 mL) was heatedat 80° C. under N₂ for 6 hours before being evaporated. The residue waspurified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1% Et₃Nin ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a yellow foam (0.484g, 83%). ESIMS m/z=410.24 [M+H]⁺.

Step 1-1b. A suspension of the compound from step 1-1a (0.484 g, 1.182mmol) and K₂CO₃ (0.408 g, 2.954 mmol) in methanol (12 ml) was stirred atrt for 3 hour. The volatiles were evaporated off. The residue waspurified by chromatography (silica, dichloromethane-ethyl acetate) togive the desired compound as a yellow foam (0.370 g, 93%). ESIMSm/z=338.24 [M+H]⁺.

Step 1-1c. A mixture of the compound from step 1-1b (80.0 mg, 0.2371mmol), the compound from step 1b (86.8 mg, 0.2371 mmol), CuI (2.2 mg,0.01185 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ (16.6 mg, 0.02371 mmol) in Et₃N (0.3 mL)and CH₃CN (2 mL) was heated at 85° C. under H₂/N₂ mixed gas for 2 hoursbefore being evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1% Et₃N in ethyl acetate) to givethe title compound as a yellow solid (48.3 mg, 33%). ESIMS m/z=623.32[M+H]⁺.

Example 2-1

Step 2-1a. A solution of the compound of example 1-1 (48.3 mg, 0.0776mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (1.5 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M,6 mL) at rt for 30 minutes. The volatiles were evaporated off to givethe crude desired compound as a yellow solid which was used directly inthe next step.

Step 2-1b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 2-1a (0.127 mmol atmost) and (R)-(methoxycarbonyl)amino phenyl acetic acid (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 40.6 mg, 0.194 mmol) in DMF (1.5 mL) wastreated with HATU (67.8 mg, 0.178 mmol) in the presence of DIPEA (0.27mL, 1.551 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated offto provide a brown syrup. It was purified by chromatography (silica,CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as a yellow solid (36.2 mg, 2steps 58%). ESIMS m/z=805.29 [M+H]⁺.

Example 2-2

A solution of the compound of example 2-1 (23.0 mg, 0.0286 mmol) inethanol (2 mL) was treated with Pd(OH)₂ (20 wt % on carbon, 23 mg) at rtwith a hydrogen balloon for 7 hour. The mixture was filtered through ashort pad of Celite. The volatiles were evaporated off. The residue waspurified by chromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the titlecompound as a white solid (16.0 mg, 70%). ESIMS m/z=809.40 [M+H]⁺.

The compounds of examples 3-356 and 358-440 may be prepared usingprocedures similar to those described in examples 1, 2, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2,357 (described below), and 441-545 (described below), and/or asdescribed in the Synthetic Methods.

TABLE 1a Examples 3-219.

Entry

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

173

174

175

176

177

178

179

180

181

182

183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

217

218

219

TABLE 2 Examples 220-229.

Entry R R′ R″ X 220 Me H H CH₂ 221 H H H CF₂ 222 Me H H S 223 H H H

224 Me H H O 225 H H H

226 H Ph H CH₂ 227 H H H

228 H H Ph CH₂ 229 H H H

TABLE 3 Examples 234-243.

Entry R R′ R″ 234 Me Me H 235 H Me H 236 Me H Me 237 cyclopropyl Me H238 Me Me Me 239 Me cyclopropyl H 240 Me Allyl H 241 Et Me H 242 MeCHMe₂ H 243 Me Et H.

TABLE 4 Examples 244-263.

Entry R R′ 244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

262

263

TABLE 5 Examples 264-273.

Entry R R′ R″ R′′′ 264 F H H H 265 F F H H 266 Me H H H 267 Me Me H H268 H H Me Me 269 H H Et Et 270 CF₃ H H H 271 CF₃ H CF₃ H 272 Cl H H H273 Cl H Cl H.

TABLE 6 Examples 274-299.

Entry R R′ R″ R′′′ 274 Me H H H 275 H CO₂H H H 276 H F H H 277 H H CO₂HH 278 H H F H 279 H H H CO₂H 280 H H H F 281 H CO₂Me H H 282 H Cl H H283 H H CO₂Me H 284 H H Cl H 285 H H H CO₂Me 286 H H H Cl 287 H CONH₂ HH 288 H Me H H 289 H H CONH₂ H 290 H H Me H 291 H H H CONH₂ 292 H H H Me293 H OMe H H 294 H CF₃ H H 295 H H OMe H 296 H H CF₃ H 297 H H H OMe298 H H H CF₃ 299 CO₂Me H H H.

TABLE 7 Examples 300-434.

Entry A^(a) 300

301

302

303

304

305

306

307

308

309

310

311

312

313

314

315

316

317

318

319

320

321

322

323

324

325

326

327

328

329

330

331

332

333

334

335

336

337

338

339

340

341

342

343

344

345

346

347

348

349

350

351

352

353

354

355

356

357

358

359

360

361

362

363

364

365

366

367

368

369

370

371

372

373

374

375

376

377

378

379

380

381

382

383

384

385

386

387

388

389

390

391

392

393

394

395

396

397

398

399

400

401

402

403

404

405

406

407

408

409

410

411

412

413

414

415

416

417

418

419

420

421

422

423

424

425

426

427

428

429

430

431

432

433

434

TABLE 8 Examples 435-440.

Entry B^(b) 435

436

437

438

439

440

Example 357

Step 357a. A solution of the compound of example 491 (0.122 g, 0.196mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (2 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M, 8mL) at rt for 1 hour. The volatiles were evaporated off to give thecrude desired compound as a yellow solid which was used directly in thenext step.

Step 357b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 357a (0.196 mmol atmost) and (R)-(methoxycarbonyl) amino phenyl acetic acid (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 0.102 g, 0.490 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) wastreated with HATU (0.171 g, 0.451 mmol) in the presence of DIPEA (0.68mL, 3.920 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated offto provide a brown syrup. It was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O). The organiclayer was washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated.The crude was purified by flash column chromatography (silica,CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as a yellow solid (0.144 g, 91%over 2 steps). ESIMS m/z=806.96 [M+H]⁺.

Example 441

A mixture of (S)-tert-butyl2-(3-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate(prepared according to US 2008/0311075, 84.9 mg, 0.193 mmol), thecompound from step 515d (66.0 mg, 0.212 mmol), CuI (1.1 mg, 5.7 μmmol)and Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ (6.7 mg, 9.6 mmol) in CH₃CN (5 mL) and triethylamine (5mL) was degassed and heated to 50° C. under N₂ for 3 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a lightyellow oil (94.0 mg, 78%). ESIMS m/z=624.34 [M+H]⁺.

Example 442

Step 442a. A solution of the compound of Example 441 (90.0 mg, 0.144mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (1 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M, 4mL) at rt for 30 minutes. The volatiles were evaporated off to give thecrude desired compound as a yellow solid which was directly used in thenext step. ESIMS m/z=424.11 [M+H]⁺.

Step 442b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 442a (0.144 mmol atmost) and (R)-(methoxycarbonyl)amino phenyl acetic acid (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 75.4 mg, 0.361 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) wastreated with HATU (0.126 g, 0.332 mmol) in the presence of DIPEA (0.36mL, 2.89 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated offto provide a brown sirup. It was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as a very light yellowsolid (98.1 mg, 2 steps 80%). ESIMS m/z=806.16 [M+H]⁺.

Example 443

A mixture of the title compound of example 442 (51.6 mg, 63.3 μmmol) andPd(OH)₂ on carbon (20%, 50.0 mg) in ethanol (3 mL) was treated with H₂balloon overnight. The mixture was filtered through celite and thefiltrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as awhite solid (42.5 mg, 82%). ESIMS m/z=810.23 [M+H]⁺.

Example 444

A mixture of (S)-tert-butyl2-(3-(4-iodophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (preparedaccording to US 2008/0311075, 85.0 mg, 0.213 mmol), the compound fromstep 515d (66.2 mg, 0.213 mmol), CuI (1.1 mg, 5.8 μmmol) andPd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ (6.7 mg, 9.6 mmol) in CH₃CN (5 mL) and triethylamine (5 mL)was degassed and heated at 60° C. under N₂ overnight. The volatiles wereevaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organicswere washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. Theresidue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a light yellow oil(91.1 mg, 76%). ESIMS m/z=623.20 [M+H]⁺.

Example 445

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 444using procedures similar to that described in Example 442. ESIMSm/z=805.36 [M+H]⁺.

Example 446

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 445using procedures similar to that described in Example 443. ESIMSm/z=809.42 [M+H]⁺.

Example 447

Step 447a. A mixture of the compound of step 1b (0.250 g, 0.683 mmol),allyltributyl-stannane (0.26 mL, 0.820 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (39.4 mg,34.1 μmmol) in toluene (6 mL) was degassed and heated at 110° C. underN₂ overnight. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue waspartitioned (EtOAc-saturated aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics were washedwith brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue waspurified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate)to give the desired compound as a colorless oil (0.127 g, 60%). ESIMSm/z=328.23 [M+H]⁺.

Step 447b. A mixture of the compound of step 1d (0.180 g, 0.459 mmol),the compound of step 447a (0.150 g, 0.459 mmol), triethylamine (0.64 mL,4.59 mmol), tri-o-tolylphosphine (18.0 mg, 57.3 μmmol) and Pd(OAc)₂ (5.1mg, 22.9 μmmol) in CH₃CN (8 mL) was degassed and heated to 90° C. underN₂ overnight. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue waspartitioned (EtOAc-saturated aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics were washedwith brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue waspurified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate)to give the title compounds as a light yellow solid (0.165 g, 70%). Theregio- and stereochemistry of the olefinic double bond was notdetermined. ESIMS m/z=639.36 [M+H]⁺.

Example 448

Step 448a. A solution of the compound of Example 447 (0.104 g, 0.163mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (1 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M, 4mL) at rt for 30 minutes. The volatiles were evaporated off to give thecrude desired compound as a yellow solid which was directly used in thenext step. ESIMS m/z=439.24 [M+H]⁺.

Step 448b. A mixture of the crude compound of step 448a (0.163 mmol atmost) and (S)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3-methylbutanoic acid (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 71.3 mg, 0.408 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) wastreated with HATU (0.142 g, 0.375 mmol) in the presence of DIPEA (0.41mL, 3.26 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated offto provide a brown sirup. It was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compounds as a white solid (89.5mg, 2 steps 73%). The regio- and stereochemistry of the olefinic doublebond was not determined. ESIMS m/z=753.39 [M+H]⁺.

Example 449

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 448using procedures similar to that described in Example 443. ESIMSm/z=755.47 [M+H]⁺.

Example 450

Step 450a. The compound of step 1e (0.200 g, 0.455 mmol) in THF (5 mL)was treated with a mixture of 30% aqueous H₂O₂ (0.5 mL) and 1N aqueousNaOH (1 mL) for 30 minutes. The volatiles were removed and the residuewas partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified byflash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give thedesired compound as a light yellow oil (0.144 g, 96%). ESIMS m/z=330.15[M+H]⁺.

Step 450b. The mixture of(S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (5 g, 23.2mmol) in acetonitrile (40 mL) was added 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (3.95g, 24.5 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for20 min before being added methyl 3,4-diaminobenzoate (3.86 g, 23.2mmol). The solution was stirred at room temperature for another 3 hoursbefore being partitioned between water and EtOAc. The organic phase wasseparated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated to afford a brown slurry,which was purified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexane-EtOAc)to give the desired product as a light yellow oil (8.14 g, 98%). ESIMSm/z=364.17 [M+H]⁺.

Step 450c. The solution of compound from step 450b in acetic acid (150mL) was stirred at 60° C. for three days before all volatiles wereremoved. The resulting residue was partitioned between aqueous NaHCO₃and EtOAc. The organic phase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) andconcentrated to afford a brown oil, which was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexane-EtOAc) to give the desired product as alight yellow solid (2.02 g, 28%). ESIMS m/z=346.15 [M+H]⁺.

Step 450d. The solution of compound from step 450c (2.02 g, 5.8 mmol) inDMF (50 mL) was added sodium hydride (55% in mineral oil, 269 mg, 6.4mmol). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours beforebeing added 2-(Trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl chloride (1.02 mL, 5.8 mmol).The mixture was stirred at room temperature for another 3 hours beforebeing partitioned between water and EtOAc. The organic phase wasseparated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated to afford a brown oil, whichwas purified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexane-EtOAc) togive the desired product as a light yellow solid (2.6 g, 94%). ESIMSm/z=475.97 [M+H]⁺.

Step 450e. The solution of compound from step 450d (2.6 g, 5.47 mmol) inTHF (50 mL) and water (25 mL) was added lithium hydroxide monohydrate(690 mg, 16.4 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 3 hours before being partitioned between water, AcOH (10mL) and EtOAc. The organic phase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) andconcentrated to afford a brown oil, which was directly used for the nextstep without further purification (2.6 g, crude, 100%). ESIMS m/z=462.02[M+H]⁺.

Step 450f. The solution of compound from step 450e (2.0 g, 4.3 mmol) inTHF (45 mL) was added triethylamine (1.85 mL, 12.9 mmol) and ethylchloroformate (1.05 mL, 10.8 mmol) at 0° C. The resulting mixturestirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes before all volatiles were removed byrotavap. The residue was dissolved in THF (70 mL) before being addedsodium borohydride (1 g, 26.4 mmol). The mixture was stirred at 0° C.for another 2 hours before being partitioned between water and EtOAc.The organic phase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated toafford a brown oil, which was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, EtOAc-methanol) to give the desired product as a light yellowsolid (1.57 g, 81%). ESIMS m/z=448.13 [M+H]⁺.

Step 450g. The compound from step 450a (70.0 mg, 0.213 mmol) in THF (5mL) was treated with the compound from step 450f (95.1 mg, 0.213 mmol),PPh₃ (83.6 mg, 0.319 mmol) and DEAD (50.2 μL, 0.319 mmol) overnightbefore being evaporated to dryness. The residue was partitioned(EtOAc-water) and the organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the titlecompound as a colorless oil (22.6 mg, 14%). The regiochemistry of theSEM group was not determined. ESIMS m/z=759.39 [M+H]⁺.

Example 451

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 450using procedures similar to that described in steps 497a and 448b. ESIMSm/z=743.32 [M+H]⁺.

Example 452

Step 452a. A mixture of 2-bromo-1-(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)ethanone (1.00g, 3.52 mmol) and N-Boc-L-proline (0.758 g, 3.52 mmol) in CH₃CN (12 mL)was added TEA (1.06 mL, 7.40 mmol) slowly. The mixture was stirred at rtuntil the disappearence of the starting material. The volatiles wereevaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organicswere washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. Theresidue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a yellow stickyoil (1.47 g, 100%). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) 7.49 (t, J=4.0 Hz, 1H), 7.13 (dd,J=4.5, 6.0 Hz, 1H), 5.36, 5.04 (2d, J=16.0 Hz, 1H), 5.22, 5.15 (2d,J=16.5 Hz, 1H), 4.45, 4.38 (dd, J=5.5, 7.5 Hz, 1H), 3.56 (m, 1H), 3.41(m, 1H), 2.25 (m, 2H), 2.05 (m, 1H), 1.90 (m, 1H), 1.46, 1.42 (2s, 9H).

Step 452b. A solution of the compound of step 452a (1.47 g, 3.52 mmol)in toluene (22 mL) was added ammonium acetate (5.42 g, 70.3 mmol) andthe resultant mixture was heated at 100° C. for 16 hours. The volatileswere evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-aq. NaHCO₃). Theorganics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a brownyellow foam (0.586 g, 42%) with a recovery of the compound from step452a (0.616 g, 42%). ESIMS m/z=398.16, 400.16 [M+H]⁺. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃)10.55 (bs, 1H), 7.07 (s, 1H), 6.94 (m, 2H), 4.92 (m, 1H), 3.40 (m, 2H),2.96 (m, 1H), 2.12 (m, 2H), 1.92 (m, 1H), 1.49 (s, 9H).

Step 452c. A mixture of the compound of step 452b (0.150 g, 0.377 mmol),the compound from step 491a (0.118 g, 0.377 mmol), triethylamine (0.52mL, 3.77 mmol), tri-o-tolyl-phosphine (14.8 mg, 47.1 μmmol) and Pd(OAc)₂(4.2 mg, 18.8 μmmol) in CH₃CN (6 mL) was degassed and heated to 110° C.in sealed tube for 36 hours. The volatiles were evaporated and theresidue was partitioned (EtOAc-saturated aqueous NaHCO₃). The organicswere washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. Theresidue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a yellow oil (64.1mg, 27%). ESIMS m/z=631.26 [M+H]⁺.

Example 453

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 452using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=745.43 [M+H]⁺.

Example 454

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 453using procedures similar to that described in Example 443. ESIMSm/z=747.40 [M+H]⁺.

Example 455

A mixture of the compound from step 452b (0.150 g, 0.377 mmol), thecompound from step 447a (0.123 g, 0.377 mmol), triethylamine (0.52 mL,3.77 mmol), tri-o-tolylphosphine (14.8 mg, 47.1 μmol) and Pd(OAc)₂ (4.2mg, 18.8 μmol) in CH₃CN (6 mL) was degassed and heated to 110° C. insealed tube for 36 hours. The volatiles were evaporated and the residuewas partitioned (EtOAc-saturated aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics werewashed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residuewas purified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethylacetate) to give the title compounds as a yellow oil (52.7 mg, 22%). Theregio- and stereochemistry of the olefinic double bond was notdetermined. ESIMS m/z=645.27 [M+H]⁺.

Example 456

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 455using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. The regio-and stereochemistry of the olefinic double bond was not determined.ESIMS m/z=759.51 [M+H]⁺.

Example 457

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 456using procedures similar to that described in Example 443. ESIMSm/z=761.41 [M+H]⁺.

Example 458

Step 458a. 6-bromo-N-methoxy-N-methyl-2-naphthamide (prepared accordingto J. Med. Chem., 2006, 49, 4721-4736, 3.57 g, 12.1 mmol) in THF (60 mL)was treated with methyl magnesium bromide (3M in Et₂O, 8.09 mL, 24.3mmol) slowly at 0° C. for 1 hour. The solution was warmed up to rt for 2hours before being quenched with aqueous NH₄Cl. The volatiles wereremoved and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics werewashed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give thecrude desired compound as a white solid (2.89 g, 96%).

Step 458b. The compound from step 458a (2.89 g, 11.6 mmol) in aceticacid (60 mL) was treated with bromine (0.59 mL, 11.6 mmol) dropwise for1 hour. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-saturated aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics were washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give the crude desiredcompound as a light yellow solid (3.898 g).

Step 458c. A mixture of the compound from step 458b (at most 11.6 mmol)and N-Boc-L-proline (3.75 g, 17.4 mmol) in CH₃CN (60 mL) was added DIPEA(2.89 mL, 23.2 mmol) slowly. The mixture was stirred at rt until thedisappearence of the starting material. The volatiles were evaporatedand the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washedwith brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give the crudedesired compound as a yellow-white foam (4.762 g). ESIMS m/z=462.03,464.02 [M+H]⁺.

Step 458d. A solution of the compound from step 458c (at most 11.6 mmol)in toluene (60 mL) was added ammonium acetate (13.4 g, 0.174 mol) andthe resultant mixture was heated up at 100° C. for 14 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-aq.NaHCO₃). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filteredand evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a yellowbrown powder (3.14 g, 4 steps, 61%). ESIMS m/z=442.02, 444.02 [M+H]⁺.

Step 458e. A mixture of the compound from step 1b (1 g, 2.73 mmol),bis-(pinacolato)-diboron (763 mg, 3.0 mmol), potassium acetate (402 mg,4.0 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (9.1 mL) was addedtetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (158 mg, 0.14 mmol). Theresulting solution was degased and then heated at 80° C. under N₂overnight before being evaporated. The residue was purified bychromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1% Et₃N in ethylacetate) to give the desired compound as a yellow solid (680 mg, 60%).ESIMS m/z=414.24 [M+H]⁺.

Step 458f. A mixture of the compound from step 458d (0.100 g, 0.226mmol), the compound from step 458e (93.4 mg, 0.226 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄,(13.1 mg, 11.3 μmmol) and NaHCO₃ (76.0 mg, 0.905 mmol) in DME (6 mL) andH₂O (2 mL) was degassed and heated at 85° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a light yellowsolid (92.0 mg, 59%). ESIMS m/z=649.54 [M+H]⁺.

Example 459

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 458using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=763.21 [M+H]⁺.

Example 460

Step 460a. A solution of the compound of example 458 (92.0 mg, 0.142mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (1 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M, 4mL) rt for 30 minutes. The volatiles were evaporated off to give thecrude desired compound as a yellow solid which was directly used in thenext step. ESIMS m/z=449.39 [M+H]⁺.

Step 460b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 460a (0.142 mmol atmost) and (2S,3R)-3-methoxy-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)butanoic acid(prepared according to WO 2008/021927, 56.9 mg, 0.298 mmol) in DMF (3mL) was treated with HATU (0.108 g, 0.284 mmol) in the presence of DIPEA(0.35 mL, 2.84 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporatedoff to provide a brown sirup. It was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as ayellow solid (60.3 mg, 2 steps 54%). ESIMS m/z=795.68 [M+H]⁺.

Example 461

Step 461a. The desired compound was prepared from4-bromo-1,2-diaminobenzene and N-Cbz-L-proline using procedures similarto that described in steps 1a and 1b. ESIMS m/z=400.11, 402.11 [M+H]⁺.

Step 461b. A mixture of the compound from step 461a (1.00 g, 2.50 mmol),bis(pinacolato)-diboron (1.27 g, 5.00 mmol) and potassium acetate (0.613g, 6.25 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (25 mL) was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.144 g, 0.125mmol). The resultant mixture were degassed and heated up at 85° C. underN₂ for 14 hours. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue waspartitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flashcolumn chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give thedesired compound as a light yellow solid (0.801 g, 72%). ESIMSm/z=448.18 [M+H]⁺.

Step 461c. A mixture of the compound from step 458d (0.790 g, 1.79mmol), the compound from step 461b (0.800 g, 1.79 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄,(0.103 g, 89.4 μmmol) and NaHCO₃ (0.601 g, 7.16 mmol) in DME (24 mL) andH₂O (8 mL) was degassed and heated at 85° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a light yellowsolid (0.854 g, 70%). ESIMS m/z=683.14 [M+H]⁺.

Example 462

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 461using procedures similar to that described in Example 460. ESIMSm/z=756.26 [M+H]⁺.

Example 463

Step 463a. A mixture of the compound from example 462 (0.314 g, 0.416mmol) and Pd(OH)₂ (20 wt % on carbon, 150 mg) in methanol (6 mL) wasadjusted pH to 3 with aqueous 6N HCl and then treated with hydrogen (60psi) for 24 hours. The mixture was filtered through Celite and thefiltrate was concentrated to give the crude desired compound as a lightyellow solid (0.401 g). ESIMS m/z=622.13 [M+H]⁺.

Step 463b. The title compound was synthesized from the compound fromstep 463a using procedures similar to that described in Example 442.ESIMS m/z=813.32 [M+H]⁺.

Example 464

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of step 463a usingprocedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMS m/z=779.33[M+H]⁺.

Example 465

A mixture of the crude compound from step 463a (0.104 mmol at most) and(2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)butanoic acid (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 20.2 mg, 0.114 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) wastreated with HATU (35.5 mg, 93.5 mmol) in the presence of DIPEA (0.13mL, 1.04 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated offto provide a brown sirup. It was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as a yellow white solid(12.8 mg, 2 steps 16%). ESIMS m/z=781.30 [M+H]⁺.

Example 466

A mixture of the crude compound from step 463a (0.104 mmol at most) and(2S,3S)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3-methylpentanoic acid (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 21.6 mg, 0.114 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) wastreated with HATU (35.5 mg, 93.5 μmmol) in the presence of DIPEA (0.13mL, 1.04 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated offto provide a brown sirup. It was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as a light yellow solid(15.6 mg, 2 steps 19%). ESIMS m/z=793.33 [M+H]⁺.

Example 467

Step 467a. (S)-tert-butyl2-(5-bromo-1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 0.500 g, 1.58 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (16 mL) wastreated with triethyl amine (0.66 mL, 4.75 mmol), di-tert-butyldicarbonate (0.518 g, 0.237 mmol) and DMAP (38.7 mg, 0.316 mmol) for 1hours before being evaporated to dryness. The residue was purified byflash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give thedesired compound as a white solid (0.650 g, 98%). ESIMS m/z=416.11,418.11 [M+H]⁺.

Step 467b. A mixture of the compound from step 467a (0.650 g, 1.56mmol), ethynyl-trimethylsilane (2.16 mL, 15.6 mmol), CuI (8.9 mg, 46.8μmmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (90.3 mg, 78.1 μmmol) in CH₃CN (5 mL) andtriethylamine (10 mL) was degassed and heated at 80° C. under N₂overnight. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desiredcompound as a light yellow oil (0.560 g, 83%). ESIMS m/z=434.22 [M+H]⁺.

Step 467c. The compound from step 467b (0.560 g, 1.29 mmol) in MeOH (30mL) was treated with potassium carbonate (0.535 g, 3.88 mmol) for 30minutes before being evaporated to dryness. The residue was partitioned(EtOAc-water), and the organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desiredcompound as a light yellow solid (0.312 g, 92%). ESIMS m/z=262.15[M+H]⁺.

Step 467d. A mixture of the compound from step 467c (0.103 g, 0.395mmol), 1,4-diiodo-benzene (62.0 mg, 0.188 mmol), CuI (2.1 mg, 11.2μmmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (21.6 mg, 18.7 mmol) in CH₃CN (1 mL) andtriethylamine (4 mL) was degassed and heated to 60° C. under N₂ for 4hours. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desiredcompound as a very light yellow solid (20.0 mg, 23%). ESIMS m/z=464.06[M+H]⁺.

Step 467e. A mixture of the compound from step 467d (20.0 mg, 43.1μmmol), the compound from step 458e (17.8 mg, 43.1 μmmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄,(9.9 mg, 8.6 μmmol) and NaHCO₃ (14.5 mg, 0.172 mmol) in DME (3 mL) andH₂O (1 mL) was degassed and heated at 90° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a light yellowsolid (26.1 mg, 86%). ESIMS m/z=623.28 [M+H]⁺.

Example 468

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 467using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=737.26 [M+H]⁺.

Example 469

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 468using procedures similar to that described in Example 443. ESIMSm/z=741.23 [M+H]⁺.

Example 470

Step 470a. A mixture of the compound of step 467c (0.150 g, 0.575 mmol),2,6-dibromo-naphthalene (98.6 mg, 0.345 mmol), CuI (3.3 mg, 17.2 μmmol)and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (33.2 mg, 28.7 mmol) in CH₃CN (1 mL) and triethylamine (4mL) was degassed and heated to 90° C. under N₂ overnight. The volatileswere evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). Theorganics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a verylight yellow oil (67.6 mg, 25%). ESIMS m/z=466.00, 467.99 [M+H]⁺.

Step 470b. A mixture of the compound from step 470a (67.6 mg, 0.145mmol), the compound from step 458e (59.9 mg, 0.145 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄,(16.8 mg, 14.5 μmmol) and NaHCO₃ (48.7 mg, 0.580 mmol) in DME (6 mL) andH₂O (2 mL) was degassed and heated at 90° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a light yellowsolid (78.8 mg, 81%). ESIMS m/z=673.14 [M+H]⁺.

Example 471

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 470using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=787.26 [M+H]⁺.

Example 472

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 471using procedures similar to that described in Example 443. ESIMSm/z=791.23 [M+H]⁺.

Example 473

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 1-1using procedures similar to that described in Example 460. ESIMSm/z=769.37 [M+H]⁺.

Example 474

Step 474a. A mixture of the compound from step 515d (0.200 g, 0.643mmol), 2,6-dibromonaphthalene (0.368 g, 1.29 mmol), CuI (3.6 mg, 19.2μmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (37.1 mg, 32.1 μmol) in CH₃CN (6 mL) andtriethylamine (6 mL) was degassed and heated at 90° C. under N₂overnight. The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desiredcompound as a light yellow oil (214 mg, 65%). ESIMS m/z=516.08, 518.08[M+H]⁺.

Step 474b. A mixture of the compound from step 474a (0.214 g, 0.415mmol), bis-(pinacolato) diboron (0.211 g, 0.829 mmol) and potassiumacetate (0.102 g, 1.04 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (8 mL) was added Pd(PPh₃)₄(23.9 mg, 20.7 μmol). The resultant mixture were degassed and heated upat 85° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. The volatiles were evaporated and theresidue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washed withbrine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purifiedby flash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to givethe desired compound as a light yellow oil (0.163 g, 60% purity). ESIMSm/z=564.17 [M+H]⁺.

Step 474c. A mixture of the compound from step 474b (0.163 g, 0.290mmol), (S)-tert-butyl2-(5-bromo-1H-imidazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (preparedaccording to WO 2008/021927, 0.137 g, 0.434 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄, (33.4 mg,28.9 μmmol) and NaHCO₃ (97.2 mg, 1.16 mmol) in DME (6 mL) and H₂O (2 mL)was degassed and heated at 90° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. The volatileswere evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O). Theorganics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a light yellowsolid (0.122 g, 60% purity). ESIMS m/z=673.29 [M+H]⁺.

Example 475

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 474using procedures similar to that described in Example 448 after HPLCpurification. ESIMS m/z=787.20 [M+H]⁺.

Example 476

The title compound was obtained as an impurity in the compound ofexample 474. ESIMS m/z=675.30 [M+H]⁺.

Example 477

The title compound was synthesized and purified as a minor product inexample 475. ESIMS m/z=789.21 [M+H]⁺.

Example 478

Step 478a. A mixture of 2,4′-dibromoacetophenone (1.59 g, 5.71 mmol) andN-Boc-glycine (1.00 g, 5.71 mmol) in CH₃CN (20 mL) was added DIPEA (1.42mL, 11.4 mmol) slowly. The mixture was stirred at rt until thedisappearence of the starting material. The volatiles were evaporatedand the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washedwith brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue waspurified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate)to give the desired compound as a light yellow solid (2.02 g, 95%).ESIMS m/z=394.15, 396.15 [M+Na]⁺.

Step 478b. A solution of the compound from step 478a (2.02 g, 5.43 mmol)in toluene (30 mL) was added ammonium acetate (8.35 g, 0.108 mol) andthe resultant mixture was heated up at 100° C. for 20 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-aq.NaHCO₃). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filteredand evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to the desired compound as a yellowbrown solid (1.62 g, 85%). ESIMS m/z=352.14, 354.14 [M+H]⁺.

Step 478c. A mixture of the compound from step 478b (80.0 mg, 0.227mmol), the compound from step 515d (77.8 mg, 0.250 mmol), CuI (1.3 mg,6.8 μmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (26.2 mg, 22.7 μmol) in triethylamine (6 mL) wasdegassed and heated at 85° C. under N₂ overnight. The volatiles wereevaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water).

The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a lightyellow solid (50.9 mg, 39%). ESIMS m/z=583.37 [M+H]⁺.

Example 479

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 478using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=697.64 [M+H]⁺.

Example 480

Step 480a. A solution of the compound of example 500 (10.0 mg, 14.7μmmol) in 1,4-dioxane (1 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M, 4mL) rt for 30 min. The volatiles were evaporated off to give the crudedesired compound as a yellow solid which was directly used in the nextstep. ESIMS m/z=580.55 [M+H]⁺.

Step 480b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 480a (14.7 μmmol atmost) and (S)-2-(methoxycarbonyloxy)-3-methylbutanoic acid (preparedaccording to Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1985, 33, 3922-3928,2.8 mg, 16.1 μmmol) in DMF (3 mL) was treated with HATU (5.6 mg, 14.7μmmol) in the presence of DIPEA (37.0 μL, 0.294 mmol) for 2 hours at rtand the volatiles were evaporated off to provide a brown sirup. It waspurified by flash column chromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to givethe title compound as a yellow solid (8.3 mg, 2 steps 76%). ESIMSm/z=738.64 [M+H]⁺.

Example 481

A mixture of the crude compound from step 480a (14.7 μmmol at most) and(S)-2-(ethoxy-carbonylamino)-3-methylbutanoic acid (prepared accordingto WO 2008/021927, 3.0 mg, 16.1 μmmol) in DMF (3 mL) was treated withHATU (5.6 mg, 14.7 μmmol) in the presence of DIPEA (37.0 μL, 0.294 mmol)for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles were evaporated off to provide abrown sirup. It was purified by flash column chromatography (silica,CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as a very yellow solid (10.2 mg,2 steps 91%). ESIMS m/z=751.67 [M+H]⁺.

Example 482

Step 482a. A mixture of N-Boc-L-proline (0.210 g, 0.976 mmol) and TEA(0.14 mL, 0.976 mmol) in THF (10 mL) at −20° C. was treated withiso-butyl chloroformate (0.13 mL, 0.976 mmol) for 30 minutes before aslow addition of 5-bromo-3-fluorobenzene-1,2-diamine (0.200 g, 0.976mmol) in THF (2 mL). It was then kept at −20° C. for 1 hour and thenslowly warmed up to rt and stirred at rt overnight. The volatiles wereevaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organicswere washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to givethe crude desired compound as a brown foam (0.436 g). ESIMS m/z=402.23,404.23 [M+H]⁺.

Step 482b. A solution of the crude compound from step 482a (0.976 mmolat most) in glacial acetic acid (10 mL) was heated at 65° C. for 24hours. The volatiles were evaporated off and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-saturated aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics were washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified byflash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give thedesired compound as a light yellow oil (0.327 g, 2 steps 87%). ESIMSm/z=384.16, 386.16 [M+H]⁺.

Step 482c. A mixture of the compound from step 482b (60.0 mg, 0.156mmol), the compound from step 1-1b (58.0 mg, 0.172 mmol), CuI (0.9 mg,4.6 μmmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (9.0 mg, 7.8 μmmol) in triethylamine (4 mL) andCH₃CN (4 mL) was degassed and heated to 90° C. under N₂ overnight. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a lightyellow solid (54.2 mg, 54%). ESIMS m/z=641.22 [M+H]⁺.

Example 483

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 482using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=755.55 [M+H]⁺.

Example 484

Step 484a. A mixture of 4-bromo-5-chlorobenzene-1,2-diamine (0.3 g, 1.19mmol) and tin(II) chloride dihydrate (1.08 g, 4.77 mmol) in DMF (10 mL)was heated at 80° C. for 2 hours. The reaction was cooled and thenneutralized by the addition of aqueous 2N NaOH. The resultant mixturewere partitioned (EtOAc-water) and the organics were washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified byflash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give thedesired compound as a light yellow brown solid (0.256 g, 96%).

Step 484b. The compound from step 484a (0.250 g, 1.13 mmol) in DMF (10mL) was treated with N-Boc-L-proline (0.243 g, 1.13 mmol), EDC.HC1(0.281 g, 1.47 mmol) and DMAP (27.6 mg, 0.226 mmol) for 12 hours beforebeing partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with aqueous1N HCl, brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give the crudedesired compound as a light red brown foam (0.401 g). ESIMS m/z=418.20,420.20 [M+H]⁺.

Step 484c. A solution of the crude compound from step 484b (1.13 mmol atmost) in glacial acetic acid (10 mL) was heated at 50° C. for 2 hours.The volatiles were evaporated off and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-saturated aqueous NaHCO₃). The organics were washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified byflash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give thedesired compound as a yellow brown solid (0.326 g, 2 steps 85%). ESIMSm/z=400.21, 402.21 [M+H]⁺.

Step 484d. A mixture of the compound from step 484c (55.0 mg, 0.140mmol), the compound from step 1-1b (56.5 mg, 0.168 mmol), CuI (0.8 mg,4.1 μmmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (8.0 mg, 6.9 μmmol) in triethylamine (3 mL) andCH₃CN (3 mL) was degassed and heated to 95° C. under N₂ overnight. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a lightyellow solid (49.7 mg, 55%). ESIMS m/z=657.40 [M+H]⁺.

Example 485

The title compound was synthesized from the compound of Example 484using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=771.63 [M+H]⁺.

Example 486

A solution the compound of example 517 (38.6 mg, 51.3 μmmol) in CH₂Cl₂(3 mL) was treated with camphorsulfonic acid (23.8 mg, 0.103 mmol) andDess-Martin periodinane (0.131 mg, 0.308 mmol) for 5 hours before beingquenched with satuated aqueous NsS₂O₃ and NaHCO₃. The mixture waspartitioned (EtOAc-water) and the organics were washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flashcolumn chromatography (silica, MeOH—CH₂Cl₂) to give the title compoundas a yellow brown solid (33.2 mg, 86%). ESIMS m/z=751.54 [M+H]⁺.

Example 487

Step 487a. A solution of 4′-bromoacetophenone-d₇ (0.500 g, 2.43 mmol) inAcOH (10 mL) was treated with bromine (0.12 mL, 2.43 mmol) for 24 hoursbefore being evaporated to dryness. The residue was partitioned(EtOAc-aqueous satuated NaHCO₃) and the organics were washed with brine,dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to give the desired compound asa white crystal (0.672 g, 98%).

Step 487b. A mixture of the compound from step 487a (0.670 g, 2.38 mmol)and N-Boc-L-proline (0.511 g, 2.38 mmol) in CH₃CN (20 mL) was addedDIPEA (0.59 mL, 4.75 mmol) slowly. The mixture was stirred at rt untilthe disappearence of the starting material. The volatiles wereevaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water). The organicswere washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and evaporated to givethe crude desired compound as a yellow brown oil (1.06 g). ESIMSm/z=416.32, 418.32 [M+H]⁺.

Step 487c. A solution of the compound from step 487b (at most 2.38 mmol)in toluene (24 mL) was added ammonium acetate (3.66 g, 47.5 mmol) andthe resultant mixture was heated up at 100° C. for 14 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-aq.NaHCO₃). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filteredand evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a yellowbrown powder (0.749 g, 2 steps, 78%). ESIMS m/z=396.20, 398.20 [M+H]⁺.

Step 487d. A mixture of the compound from step 487c (200 mg, 0.505mmol), the compound from step 515d (0.188 g, 0.606 mmol), CuI (2.9 mg,15.1 μmmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (29.1 mg, 25.2 mmol) in triethylamine (5 mL)and CH₃CN (5 mL) was degassed and heated at 95° C. under N₂ overnight.The volatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned(EtOAc-water). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the titlecompound as a light yellow solid (0.151 g, 48%). ESIMS m/z=627.58[M+H]⁺.

Example 488

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 487using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=741.70 [M+H]⁺.

Example 489

Step 489a. A mixture of the compound from step 458d (0.200 g, 0.452mmol), bis(pinaco-lato)diboron (0.144 g, 0.565 mmol), PdCl₂(dppf)₂ (36.9mg, 0.0452 mmol) and potassium acetate (88.7 mg, 0.904 mmol) in DMSO (5mL) was degassed and heated at 80° C. under N₂ for 17 hours. Thereaction mixture was allowed to cool down and partitioned (EtOAc-water).

The organic layer was washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a yellow solid(0.188 g, 85%). ESIMS m/z=490.12 [M+H]⁺.

Step 489b. A mixture of the compound from step 484c (50.0 mg, 0.125mmol), the compound from step 489a (73.2 mg, 0.150 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄,(7.2 mg, 6.2 μmol) and NaHCO₃ (41.9 mg, 0.499 mmol) in DME (6 mL) andH₂O (2 mL) was degassed and heated at 95° C. under N₂ for 14 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a white solid (21.3mg, 25%). ESIMS m/z=683.52 [M+H]⁺.

Example 490

The title compound was synthesized from the compound from Example 489using procedures similar to that described in Example 448. ESIMSm/z=797.62 [M+H]⁺.

Example 491

Step 491a. A mixture of the compound of step 1b (1.600 g, 4.369 mmol),tributyl(vinyl)tin (1.53 ml, 5.242 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (5 mol %, 0.250g, 0.218 mmol) in toluene (20 mL) was degassed and then refluxed underN₂ for 18 h before being allowed to cool to rt. The mixture was directlypurified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetatewith 1% Et₃N in ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a pinkfoam (0.912 g, 67%). ESIMS m/z=314.18 [M+H]⁺.

Step 491b. A mixture of the compound from step 491a (1.251 g, 3.191mmol), the compound of step 1d (1.000 g, 3.191 mmol), Pd(OAc)₂ (5 mol %,35.8 mg, 0.160 mmol) and P(o-tolyl)₃ (0.121 g, 0.399 mmol) in Et₃N (4.45mL) and CH₃CN (30 mL) was degassed and refluxed under N₂ gas for 20hours before being evaporated. The residue was taken up indichloromethane and filtered through a short pad of Celite. The filtratewas purified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1%Et₃N in ethyl acetate) to give the title compound as a yellow solid(1.471 g, 74%). ESIMS m/z=625.05 [M+H]⁺.

Example 492

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 491 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 448. ESIMS m/z=739.15[M+H]⁺.

Example 493

The title compound was obtained as a minor product (˜2%) in example 492.ESIMS m/z=739.03 [M+H]⁺.

Example 494

Pd(OH)₂ (20% on carbon, 10.8 mg) was added into a solution of thecompound from example 492 (10.8 mg, 0.0146 mmol) in EtOH (1.5 mL). Thesuspension was purged with H₂ 3 times and stirred at rt for 6 h under H₂(60 psi) before being filtered through a short pad of Celite. Thefiltrate was concentrated. The crude was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as awhite solid (7.2 mg, 59%). ESIMS m/z=741.13 [M+H]⁺.

Example 495

To a solution of the compound from example 491 (0.268 g, 0.430 mmol) inDMF (6 mL) was added NaH (60% in mineral oil, 36.0 mg, 0.902 mmol) atrt. The suspension was stirred at rt for 1 hour. SEMC1 (0.154 mL, 0.868mmol) was added dropwise at rt. After 1.5 hour at rt, the reaction wasquenched with saturated NH₄Cl solution and extracted with EtOAc. Theorganic layer was washed with saturated NaHCO₃, brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and concentrated. The crude was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the titlecompound as a yellow foam (0.290 g, 76%). The regiochemistry of the SEMgroups was not determined. ESIMS m/z=885.25 [M+H]⁺.

Example 496

To a solution of the compound from example 495 (0.150 g, 0.169 mmol) inTHF (1.5 mL) was added Pd(OAc)₂ (3.8 mg, 0.0169 mmol) at 0° C. Excessdiazomethane (solution in ether) was added with a plastic pipette untilthe starting material was consumed. The suspension was concentrated. Theresidue was taken up in dichloromethane and filtered through a short padof celite. The filtrate was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the title compounds as acolorless oil (0.106 g, 70%). The regiochemistry of the SEM group andthe stereochemistry of the cyclopropyl ring were not determined. ESIMSm/z=899.07 [M+H]⁺.

Example 497

Step 497a. A solution of the compound of example 496 (0.106 g, 0.118mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (2 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M, 12mL) at 50° C. for 4 hour. The volatiles were evaporated off to give thecrude desired compounds as a yellow solid which was used directly in thenext step.

Step 497b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 497a (0.118 mmol atmost) and (5)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3-methylbutanoic acid (41.3 mg,0.236 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) was treated with HATU (85.2 mg, 0.224 mmol) inthe presence of DIPEA (0.41 mL, 2.360 mmol) for 1 hours at rt and thevolatiles were evaporated off to provide a brown syrup. The residue waspatitioned (EtOAc-H₂O). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified byRP-HPLC(NH₄HCO₃ buffer-MeOH) to give the title compounds: the majordiastereomer (497-a, tentative) as a yellow solid (19.4 mg), ESIMSm/z=753.12 [M+H]⁺; and the minor diastereomer (497-b, tentative) as ayellow solid (3.1 mg), ESIMS m/z=753.12 [M+H]⁺. The stereochemistry ofthe cyclopropyl rings was not determined.

Example 498

Step 498a. A mixture of the compound from step 458e (0.250 g, 0.605mmol), 1-bromo-4-iodobenzene (0.257 g, 0.908 mmol), NaHCO₃ (0.203 g,2.42 mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₄ (34.9 mg, 30.2 μmmol) in DME (12 mL) and water(4 mL) was degassed and heated to 85° C. under N₂ overnight. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-water).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as a verylight yellow solid (0.246 g, 92%). ESIMS m/z=442.00, 444.00 [M+H]⁺.

Step 498b. A mixture of the compound from step 1e (81.1 mg, 0.185 mmol),the compound from step 498a (85.8 mg, 0.194 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄, (21.4 mg,18.5 μmmol) and NaHCO₃ (62.1 mg, 0.739 mmol) in DME (3 mL) and H₂O (1mL) was degassed and heated at 80° C. under N₂ for 22 hours. Thevolatiles were evaporated and the residue was partitioned (EtOAc-H₂O).The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered andevaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography (silica,hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1% Et₃N in ethyl acetate) to give the titlecompound as a yellow solid (0.100 g, 81%). ESIMS m/z=675.17 [M+H]⁺.

Example 499

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 498 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 448. ESIMS m/z=789.06[M+H]⁺.

Example 500

Step 500a. A solution of the compound from step 515b (2.000 g, 4.553mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (25 mL) was treated with HCl in 1,4-dioxane (4 M,50 mL) at rt for 1.5 hours. The volatiles were evaporated off to givethe crude desired compound as a yellow solid which was used directly inthe next step. ESIMS m/z=339.89 [M+H]⁺.

Step 500b. A mixture of the crude compound from step 500a (4.553 mmol atmost) and (5)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3-methylbutanoic acid (0.798 g,4.553 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was treated with HATU (1.644 g, 4.325 mmol)in the presence of DIPEA (7.93 mL, 45.53 mmol) for 1.5 hours at rt andthe volatiles were evaporated off. The residue was partitioned(EtOAc-H₂O). The organics were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄),filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography(silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1% Et₃N in ethyl acetate) to givethe title compound as a yellow foam (2.026 g, 90% over 2 steps). ESIMSm/z=496.90 [M+H]⁺.

Step 500c. A mixture of compound from step 500b (0.800 g, 1.612 mmol),the compound from step 515d (0.501 g, 1.612 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄, (5 mol %,93.1 mg, 80.6 μmmol) and CuI (3 mol %, 9.2 mg, 48.3 μmmol) in Et₃N (4mL) and THF (12 mL) was degassed and stirred at 40° C. under N₂ for 18hours. The volatiles were evaporated. The residue was purified bychromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1% Et₃N in ethylacetate) to give the title compound as a yellow solid (0.705 g, 64%).ESIMS m/z=680.09 [M+H]⁺.

Example 501

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(5)-2-(methoxy-carbonylamino)propanoic acid using procedures similar tothat described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=709.05 [M+H]⁺.

Example 502

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(S)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)butanoic acid using procedures similar tothat described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=723.05 [M+H]⁺.

Example 503

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(S)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)pentanoic acid using procedures similar tothat described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=737.09 [M+H]⁺.

Example 504

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(R)-(methoxycarbonyl)amino phenyl acetic acid using procedures similarto that described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=771.06 [M+H]⁺.

Example 505

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(2S,3R)-3-methoxy-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)butanoic acid using proceduressimilar to that described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=753.05[M+H]⁺.

Example 506

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(S)-2-acetamido-3-methylbutanoic acid using procedures similar to thatdescribed in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=721.48 [M+H]⁺.

Example 507

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(R)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutanoic acid using procedures similar to thatdescribed in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=740.50 [M+H]⁺.

Example 508

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(R)-2-(methoxy-carbonylamino)-3-methylbutanoic acid using proceduressimilar to that described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=737.49[M+H]⁺.

Example 509

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 500 and(S)-2-(methoxy-carbonylamino)-2-phenylacetic acid using proceduressimilar to that described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=771.40[M+H]⁺.

Example 510

Step 510a. A solution of the compound from the compound from step 515d(1 g, 3.21 mmol) in dichloromethane (20 mL) was treated with HCl in1,4-dioxane (4 M, 12 mL) at room temperature for 1 hour. The volatileswere evaporated off to give the crude desired compound as a yellow solidwhich was used directly in the next step.

Step 510b. The mixture of compounds from step 510a (3.21 mml at most)and the compound from step 515g (562 mg, 3.21 mmol) in DMF (12 mL) wasadded diisopropylethylamine (4.56 mL, 32 mmol) and HATU (1.22 g, 3.21mmol). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 1 hourbefore all volatiles were removed to provide a brown slurry, which waspartitioned between EtOAc and aqueous NaOH (0.5M). The organic phase wasseparated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated to afford a brown oil, whichwas purified by flash column chromatography (silica, EtOAc-methanol) togive the desired compound.

Step 510c. The title compound was prepared from the compound from step510b and 515b using procedures similar to that described in step 500c.ESIMS m/z=680.36 [M+H]⁺.

Example 511

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 510 and(S)-2-acetamido-3-methylbutanoic acid using procedures similar to thatdescribed in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=721.49 [M+H]⁺.

Example 512

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 510 and(R)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutanoic acid using procedures similar to thatdescribed in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=740.51 [M+H]⁺.

Example 513

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 510 and(R)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3-methylbutanoic acid using proceduressimilar to that described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=737.50[M+H]⁺.

Example 514

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 510 and(S)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-2-phenylacetic acid using proceduressimilar to that described in steps 500a and 500b. ESIMS m/z=771.49[M+H]⁺.

Example 515

Step 515a. Into a mixture of 2-bromo-1-(4-iodophenyl)ethanone (5 g, 15.4mmol) and (S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (3.48g, 16.1 mmol) in acetonitrile (40 mL) was added diisopropylethylamine(2.4 mL, 17 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at rt for 3 hoursbefore being partitioned between EtOAc and aqueous NaHCO₃. The organicphase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated to afford a brownoil. It was purified by flash column chromatography (silica,hexane-EtOAc) to give the desired product as light yellow oil (6.0 g,86%). ESIMS m/z=481.94 [M+Na]⁺.

Step 515b. The mixture of compound from step 515a (6.0 g, 12.5 mmol) andammonium acetate (15.1 g, 196 mmol) in toluene (80 mL) was stirred at80° C. for 3 hours before being partitioned between water and aqueousNaHCO₃. The organic phase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentratedto afford a deep red oil. It was purified by flash column chromatography(silica, hexane-EtOAc) to give the desired product as light yellow solid(5.34 g, 93%). ESIMS m/z=439.83 [M+H]⁺.

Step 515c. A mixture of the compound from step 1b (2.010 g, 5.488 mmol),trimethylsilyl-acetylene (2.33 ml, 16.46 mmol), CuI (0.110 g, 0.576mmol) and Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ (0.308 g, 0.439 mmol) in Et₃N (50 mL) was degasedand then heated at 80° C. under N₂ overnight before being evaporated.The residue was purified by chromatography (silica, hexanes-ethylacetate with 1% Et₃N in ethyl acetate) to give the desired compound as ayellow foam (1.140 g, 54%). ESIMS m/z=384.22 [M+H]⁺.

Step 515d. A suspension of the compound from step 515c (1.140 g, 2.972mmol) and K₂CO₃ (1.027 g, 7.430 mmol) in methanol (30 ml) was stirred atrt for 2 hour. The volatiles were evaporated off. The residue waspatitioned (EtOAc-H₂O). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried(Na₂SO₄), filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified bychromatography (silica, hexanes-ethyl acetate with 1% Et₃N in ethylacetate) to give the desired compound as a yellow foam (0.792 g, 86%).ESIMS m/z=312.18 [M+H]⁺.

Step 515e. The mixture of compounds from step 515b (9.1 g, 20.7 mmol)and step 515d (6.45 g, 20.7 mmol) in THF (200 mL), triethylamine (60 mL)and acetonitrile (200 mL) was addedtetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (1.15 g, 1 mmol) and copper(I)iodide (119 mg, 0.62 mmol). The resulting mixture was purged withnitrogen before being stirred at room temperature for 12 hours, at 50°C. for 2 hours and at 60° C. for 1 hour. After addition of aqueous NaOH(1M, 100 mL), the organic phase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) andconcentrated to afford a brown slurry, which was absorbed with silicaand purified by flash column chromatography (silica, EtOAc-methanol) togive the desired compound as light yellow solid (10.8 g, 84%). ESIMSm/z=623.07 [M+H]⁺.

Step 515f. A solution of the compound from step 515e (3 g, 4.58 mmol) indichloromethane (50 mL) and MeOH (5 mL) was treated with HCl in1,4-dioxane (4 M, 40 mL) at rt for 2 hours. The volatiles wereevaporated off to give the crude desired compound as a yellow solidwhich was used directly in the next step. ESIMS m/z=423.06 [M+H]⁺.

Step 515g. The mixture of L-valine (50 g, 0.427 mol) in 1,4-dioxane (140mL) was added water (630 mL), NaOH (54.7 g, 1.4 mol) and methylchloroformate (65.7 mL, 0.85 mol). The resulting solution was stirred at60° C. for 22 hours before being added dichloromethane (400 mL). Theaqueous phase was separated and extracted with dichloromethane (400 mL)before acidification with hydrochloric acid (37% in water, 90 mL). Thecloudy suspension was extracted with EtOAc (500 mL) twice and thecombined organic phases were dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated to afford awhite solid, which was recrystallized with hexane and EtOAc to affordthe desired product as colorless needle like crystals (54 g, 72%). ¹HNMR (d⁶-DMSO) 12.52 (s, 1H), 7.33 (d, 1H), 3.85 (dd, 1H), 3.56 (s, 3H),2.06 (m, 1H), 0.98 (m, 6H).

Step 515h. The mixture of compounds from step 515f (4.58 mml at most)and step 515g (1.61 g, 9.16 mmol) in acetonitrile (50 mL) was addeddiisopropylethylamine (5.21 mL, 39 mmol) and HATU (3.31 g, 8.7 mmol).The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 35 minutesbefore being partitioned between EtOAc (500 mL) and aqueous NaOH (0.5M,50 mL). The organic phase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentratedto afford a brown slurry, which was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, EtOAc-methanol) to give the title compound aslight yellow solid (2.31 g, 65% over 2 steps). ESIMS m/z=737.12 [M+H]⁺.

Example 516

The title compound was prepared from(2S,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxy-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidusing procedures similar to that described in steps 515a to 515e. ESIMSm/z=639.36 [M+H]⁺.

Example 517

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 516 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 448. ESIMS m/z=753.46[M+H]⁺.

Example 518

The title compound was prepared from(2S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4,4-difluoropyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidusing procedures similar to that described in steps 515a to 515e. ESIMSm/z=659.35 [M+H]⁺.

Example 519

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 518 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 448. ESIMS m/z=773.34[M+H]⁺.

Example 520

The title compound was prepared from the compound from step 1-ib,4-bromo-1,2-diaminobenzene and(65)-5-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-6-carboxylic acid(prepared according to WO 2009/102325) using procedures similar to thatdescribed in examples 1 and 1-1. ESIMS m/z=649.30 [M+H]⁺.

Example 521

The title compound was prepared from the compound of Example 521 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 448. ESIMS m/z=763.30[M+H]⁺.

Example 522

The title compound was prepared from 2,4′-dibromoacetophenone, thecompound from step 515d and(6S)-5-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-6-carboxylic acid(prepared according to WO 2009/102325) using procedures similar to thatdescribed in examples 1 and 515. ESIMS m/z=649.35 [M+H]⁺.

Example 523

The title compound was prepared from the compound of Example 522 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 448. ESIMS m/z=763.44[M+H]⁺.

Example 524

The title compound was prepared from 2,4′-dibromoacetophenone,4-bromo-1,2-diaminobenzene and(65)-5-[(tert-butoxy)carbonyl]-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-6-carboxylic acid(prepared according to WO 2009/102325) using procedures similar to thatdescribed in examples 1 and 515. ESIMS m/z=675.35 [M+H]⁺.

Example 525

The title compound was prepared from the compound of Example 524 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 448. ESIMS m/z=789.47[M+H]⁺.

Example 526

A mixture of the crude compound from step 515f (0.105 mmol at most) and(2S,3S)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3-methylpentanoic acid (prepared byprocedure similar to that in step 515g, 35 mg, 0.21 mmol) inacetonitrile (2 mL) was treated with HATU (79 mg, 0.21 mmol) in thepresence of DIPEA (0.15 mL, 1.05 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and thevolatiles were evaporated off to provide a brown oil. It was purified byflash column chromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the titlecompound as a yellow solid (60 mg, 2 steps 75%). ESIMS m/z=765.14[M+H]⁺.

Example 527

A mixture of the crude compound from step 515f (0.10 mmol at most) and(2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)butanoic acid (prepared byprocedure similar to that described in step 515g, 35 mg, 0.20 mmol) inDMF (2 mL) was treated with HATU (76 mg, 0.20 mmol) in the presence ofDIPEA (0.12 mL, 0.80 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and the volatiles wereevaporated off to provide a brown oil. It was purified by flash columnchromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the title compound as ayellow solid (64 mg, 2 steps 86%). ESIMS m/z=741.07 [M+H]⁺.

Example 528

A mixture of the crude compound from step 480a (0.015 mmol at most) and(S)-2-cyclopropyl-2-(methoxycarbonylamino) acetic acid (prepared byprocedure similar to that described in step 515g, 2.6 mg, 0.015 mmol) inacetonitrile (2 mL) was treated with HATU (5.7 mg, 0.015 mmol) in thepresence of DIPEA (0.03 mL, 0.15 mmol) for 2 hours at rt and thevolatiles were evaporated off to provide a brown oil. It was purified byflash column chromatography (silica, CH₂Cl₂-MeOH) to give the titlecompound as a yellow solid (7.6 mg, 2 steps 69%). ESIMS m/z=735.22[M+H]⁺.

Example 529

The title compound as a yellow solid (7.9 mg, 2 steps 71%) was preparedfrom the crude compound from step 480a (0.015 mmol at most) and(S)-2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-3,3-dimethylbutanoic acid (2.8 mg, 0.015mmol) using the procedures similar to that described in example 528.ESIMS m/z=751.55 [M+H]⁺.

Example 530

The title compound as a yellow solid (7.3 mg, 2 steps 65%) was preparedfrom the crude compound from step 480a (0.015 mmol at most) and(S)-3-hydroxy-2-(methoxycarbonyl-amino)-3-methylbutanoic acid (2.8 mg,0.015 mmol) using the procedures similar to that described in example528. ESIMS m/z=753.36 [M+H]⁺.

Example 531

The title compound as a yellow solid (4.0 mg, 2 steps 36%) was preparedfrom the crude compound from step 480a (0.015 mmol at most) and(2S,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-(methoxycarbonyl-amino)butanoic acid (2.6 mg, 0.015mmol) using the procedures similar to that described in example 528.ESIMS m/z=739.26 [M+H]⁺.

Example 532

The title compounds as a yellow solid (5.5 mg, 2 steps 46%) was preparedfrom the crude compound from step 480a (0.015 mmol at most) and2-(methoxycarbonylamino)-2-phenylbutanoic acid (2.6 mg, 0.015 mmol)using the procedures similar to that described in example 528. ESIMSm/z=799.46 [M+H]⁺.

Example 533

Step 533a. A mixture of (S)-tert-butyl2-(5-(4-bromophenyl)oxazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate (preparedaccording to US2008/311075A1, 47.5 mg, 0.12 mmol) and the compound fromstep 515d (38 mg, 0.12 mg) in triethylamine (10 mL) was addedtetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) (14 mg, 0.012 mmol) andcopper(I) iodide (2 mg, 0.01 mmol). The resulting mixture was purgedwith nitrogen before being stirred at 100° C. for 12 hours. The mixturewas partitioned between water and EtOAc and the organic phase wasseparated, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated to afford a brown slurry,which was purified by flash column chromatography (silica, hexane-EtOAc)to give the desired product as a light yellow solid (56 mg, 59%). ESIMSm/z=623.95 [M+H]⁺.

Step 533b. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step533a using procedures similar to that described in step 2-1a. ESIMSm/z=424.02 [M+H]⁺.

Step 533c. The title compound was prepared from the compound of step533b using procedures similar to that described in step 2-1b. ESIMSm/z=805.92 [M+H]⁺.

Example 534

The title compound was prepared from the compound of example 533 usingprocedures similar to that described in example 2-2. ESIMS m/z=810.10[M+H]⁺.

Example 535

Step 535a. The desired product was prepared from(2S,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-hydroxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidusing procedures similar to that described in step 515a. ESIMSm/z=476.14 [M+H]⁺.

Step 535b. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step535a using procedures similar to that described in step 515b. ESIMSm/z=455.99 [M+H]⁺.

Step 535c. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step535b and the compound of step 515d using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515e. ESIMS m/z=639.30 [M+H]⁺.

Step 535d. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step535c using procedures similar to that described in step 515f. ESIMSm/z=439.26 [M+H]⁺.

Step 535e. The title compound was prepared from the compound of step535d and the compound of step 515g using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=753.40 [M+H]⁺.

Example 536

Step 536a. The mixture of(R)-2-benzyl-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (200mg, 0.66 mmol) and 4-bromo-1,2-diaminobenzene (135 mg, 0.73 mmol) inacetonitrile (2 mL) was added EDC (138 mg, 0.73 mmol) and4-dimethylaminopyridine (40 mg, 0.2 mmol). The resulting mixture wasstirred at room temperature for 1 hour before being partitioned betweenwater and EtOAc. The organic phase was separated, dried (Na₂SO₄) andconcentrated to afford a brown slurry, which was purified by flashcolumn chromatography (silica, hexane-EtOAc) to give the desired productas a light yellow solid (190 mg, 61%). ESIMS m/z=474.18 [M+H]⁺.

Step 536b. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step536a using procedures similar to that described in step 1b. ESIMSm/z=456.17 [M+H]⁺.

Step 536c. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step536b and the compound from step 1-1b using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 1-1c. ESIMS m/z=713.46 [M+H]⁺.

Step 536d. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step536c using procedures similar to that described in step 515f. ESIMSm/z=513.30 [M+H]⁺.

Step 536e. The title compound was prepared from the compound of step536d and the compound from step 515g using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=827.49 [M+H]⁺.

Example 537

Step 537a. The desired product was prepared from(2S,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-phenoxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidusing procedures similar to that described in step 536a. ESIMSm/z=476.14 [M+H]⁺.

Step 537b. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step537a using procedures similar to that described in step 1b. ESIMSm/z=458.16 [M+H]⁺.

Step 537c. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step537b and the compound of step 1-1b using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 1-1c. ESIMS m/z=715.36 [M+H]⁺.

Step 537d. The desired product was prepared from the compound of step537c using procedures similar to that described in step 515f. ESIMSm/z=515.19 [M+H]⁺.

Step 537e. The title compound was prepared from the compound from step537d and the compound from step 515g using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=829.35 [M+H]⁺.

Example 538

The title compound was prepared from(2S,4S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-phenoxypyrroli-dine-2-carboxylic acidusing procedures similar procedures similar to that described in example537. ESIMS m/z=829.42 [M+H]⁺.

Example 539

The title compound was prepared from(S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-methylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid usingprocedures similar procedures similar to that described in example 536.ESIMS m/z=751.34 [M+H]⁺.

Example 540

Step 540a. The desired product was prepared from(2S,4R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-fluoropyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidusing procedures similar to that described in step 536a. ESIMSm/z=402.07 [M+H]⁺.

Step 540b. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step540a using procedures similar to that described in step 1b. ESIMSm/z=384.09 [M+H]⁺.

Step 540c. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step540b and the compound from step 1-1b using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 1-1c. ESIMS m/z=641.32 [M+H]⁺.

Step 540d. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step540c using procedures similar to that described in step 515f. ESIMSm/z=441.13 [M+H]⁺.

Step 540e. The title compound was prepared from the compound from step540d and the compound from step 515g using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=755.31 [M+H]⁺.

Example 541

Step 541a. The desired product was prepared from(1R,3S,5R)-2-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-3-carboxylicacid (prepared according to WO2009/102325) using procedures similar tothat described in step 536a. ESIMS m/z=396.13 [M+H]⁺.

Step 541b. The desired product was prepared from compound 541a usingprocedures similar to that described in step 1b. ESIMS m/z=378.11[M+H]⁺.

Step 541c. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step541b and the compound from step 1-1b using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 1-1c. ESIMS m/z=635.43 [M+H]⁺.

Step Mid. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step541c using procedures similar to that described in step 515f. ESIMSm/z=435.31 [M+H]⁺.

Step 541e. The title compound was prepared from the compound from step541d and the compound from step 515g using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=749.45 [M+H]⁺.

Example 542

Step 542a. The desired product was prepared from(2S,5S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-5-methylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid(prepared according to Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2009, 49, 3250)using procedures similar to that described in step 536a. ESIMSm/z=398.07 [M+H]⁺.

Step 542b. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step542a using procedures similar to that described in step 1b. ESIMSm/z=380.01 [M+H]⁺.

Step 542c. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step542b and the compound from step 1-1b using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 1-1c. ESIMS m/z=637.39 [M+H]⁺.

Step 542d. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step542c using procedures similar to that described in step 515f. ESIMSm/z=437.26 [M+H]⁺.

Step 542e. The title compound was prepared from the compound from step542d and the compound from step 515g using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=751.44 [M+H]⁺.

Example 543

The title compound was prepared from(2S,4S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-fluoropyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acidusing procedures similar procedures similar to that described in example540. ESIMS m/z=755.42 [M+H]⁺.

Example 544

Step 544a. The desired product was prepared from(S)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid and4-bromo-5-methoxybenzene-1,2-diamine (prepared according to Journal ofMedicinal Chemistry 1997, 40, 730) using procedures similar proceduressimilar to that described in step 536a. ESIMS m/z=414.10 [M+H]⁺.

Step 544b. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step544a using procedures similar procedures similar to that described instep 1b. ESIMS m/z=396.06 [M+H]⁺.

Step 544c. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step544b and the compound from step 1-1b using procedures similar proceduressimilar to that described in step 1-1c. ESIMS m/z=653.39 [M+H]⁺.

Step 544d. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step544c using procedures similar procedures similar to that described instep 515f. ESIMS m/z=453.27 [M+H]⁺.

Step 544e. The title compound was prepared from the compound from step544d and the compound from step 515g using procedures similar proceduressimilar to that described in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=767.47 [M+H]⁺.

Example 545

Step 545a. The desired product was prepared from(1S,2S,5R)-3-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxylicacid (prepared according to J. Org. Chem., 1999, 64, 547) usingprocedures similar to that described in step 536a. ESIMS m/z=396.25[M+H]⁺.

Step 545b. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step545a using procedures similar to that described in step 1b. ESIMSm/z=378.21 [M+H]⁺.

Step 545c. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step545b and the compound from step 1-1b using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 1-1c. ESIMS m/z=635.33 [M+H]⁺.

Step 545d. The desired product was prepared from the compound from step545c using procedures similar to that described in step 1f. ESIMSm/z=435.28 [M+H]⁺.

Step 545e. The title compound was prepared from the compound from step545d and the compound from step 515g using procedures similar to thatdescribed in step 515h. ESIMS m/z=749.44 [M+H]⁺.

Biological Activity 1. HCV Replicon Cell Lines

HCV replicon cell lines (kindly provided by R. Bartenschlager) isolatedfrom colonies as described by Lohman et. al. (Lohman et al. (1999)Science 285: 110-113, expressly incorporated by reference in itsentirety) and used for all experiments. The HCV replicon has the nucleicacid sequence set forth in EMBL Accession No.: AJ242651, the codingsequence of which is from nucleotides 1801 to 8406.

The coding sequence of the published HCV replicon was synthesized andsubsequently assembled in a modified plasmid pBR322 (Promega, Madison,Wis.) using standard molecular biology techniques. One replicon cellline (“SGR 11-7”) stably expresses

HCV replicon RNA which consists of (i) the HCV 5′UTR fused to the first12 amino acids of the capsid protein, (ii) the neomycinphosphotransferase gene (neo), (iii) the IRES from encephalomyocarditisvirus (EMCV), and (iv) HCV NS2 to NS5B genes and the HCV 3′UTR. Anotherreplicon cell line (“Huh-luc/neo-ET”) described by Vrolijk et. al.(Vrolijk et. al. (2003) Journal of Virological Methods 110:201-209,expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety) stably expressesHCV replicon RNA which consists of (i) the HCV 5′UTR fused to the first12 amino acids of the capsid protein, (ii) the firefly luciferasereporter gene, (iii) the ubiquitin gene, (iv) the neomycinphosphotransferase gene (neo), (v) the IRES from encephalomyocarditisvirus (EMCV), and (vi) HCV NS3 to NS5B genes that harbor cell cultureadaptive mutations (E1202G, T12801, K1846T) and the HCV 3′UTR.

These cell lines were maintained at 37° C., 5% CO₂, 100% relativehumidity in DMEM (Cat#11965-084, Invitrogen), with 10% fetal calf serum(“FCS”, Invitrogen), 1% non-essential amino acids (Invitrogen), 1% ofGlutamax (Invitrogen), 1% of 1 OOX penicillin/streptomycin(Cat#15140-122, Invitrogen) and Geneticin (Cat#10131-027, Invitrogen) at0.75 mg/ml or 0.5 mg/ml for 11-7 and Huh-luc/neo-ET cells, respectively.

2. HCV Replicon Assay-qRT-PCR

EC₅₀ values of single agent compounds and combinations were determinedby HCV RNA detection using quantitative RT-PCR, according to themanufacturer's instructions, with a TAQMAN® One-Step RT-PCR Master MixReagents Kit (Cat# AB 4309169, Applied Biosystems) on an ABI Model 7500thermocycler. The TaqMan primers used for detecting and quantifying HCVRNA were obtained from Integrated DNA Technologies. HCV RNA wasnormalized to GAPDH RNA levels in drug-treated cells, which is detectedand quantified using the Human GAPDH Endogenous Control Mix (AppliedBiosystems, AB 4310884E). Total cellular RNA is purified from 96-wellplates using the RNAqueous 96 kit (Ambion, Cat# AM1812). Chemical agentcytotoxicity is evaluated using an MTS assay according to themanufacturer's directions (Promega).

3. HCV Replicon Assay-Luciferase

Since clinical drug resistance often develops in viral infectionsfollowing single agent therapies, there is a need to assess theadditive, antagonistic, or synergistic properties of combinationtherapies. We used the HCV replicon system to assess the potential useof the compound of the present invention or in combination therapieswith Interferon alpha, cyclosporine analogs and inhibitors targetingother HCV proteins. The acute effects of a single or combinations ofdrugs are studied in the “Huh-luc/neo-ET” replicon with each chemicalagent titrated in an X or Y direction in a 6 point two-fold dilutioncurve centered around the EC50 of each drug. Briefly, replicon cells areseeded at 7,000 cells per well in 90 ul DMEM (without phenol red,Invitrogen Cat.#31053-036) per well with 10% FCS, 1% non-essential aminoacids, 1% of Glutamax and 1% of 1 OOX penicillin/streptomycin andincubated overnight at 37° C., 5% CO₂, 100% relative humidity. 16-20 hafter seeding cells, test compounds previously solubilized and titratedin dimethyl sulfoxide (“DMSO”) from each X plate and Y plate are diluted1:100 in DMEM (without phenol red, Invitrogen Cat.# 31053-036) with 10%FCS, 1% non-essential amino acids, 1% of Glutamax and 1% of100×penicillin/streptomycin and added directly to the 96-well platecontaining cells and growth medium at a 1:10 dilution for a finaldilution of compound and DMSO of 1:1000 (0.2% DMSO final concentration).Drug treated cells are incubated at 37° C., 5% CO₂, 100% relativehumidity for 72 hours before performing a luciferase assay using 100 ulper well BriteLite Plus (Perkin Elmer) according to the manufacturer'sinstructions. Data analysis utilizes the method published by Prichardand Shipman (Antiviral Research, 1990. 14:181-205). Using this method,the combination data are analyzed for antagonistic, additive, orsynergistic combination effects across the entire combination surfacecreated by the diluted compounds in combination.

The compounds of the present invention may inhibit HCV by mechanisms inaddition to or other than NS5A inhibition. In one embodiment, thecompounds of the present invention inhibit HCV replicon and in anotherembodiment the compounds of the present invention inhibit NS5A.

The compounds of the present invention can be effective against the HCVlb genotype. It should also be understood that the compounds of thepresent invention can inhibit multiple genotypes of HCV. In oneembodiment compound of the present invention are active against the 1a,1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, and 5a genotypes. Table 10 shows the EC₅₀ values ofrepresentative compounds of the present invention against the HCV 1bgenotype from the above described qRT-PCR or luciferase assay. EC₅₀ranges against HCV 1b are as follows: A

>10 nM; B1-10 nM; C<1 nM.

TABLE 10 Genotype-1b replicon EC₅₀ Example Range Example Range ExampleRange  2 C 2-1 C 2-2 C 357 C 442 C 443 C 445 C 446 C 448 C 449 C 451 C453 C 454 C 456 C 457 C 459 C 460 C 463 C 464 C 465 C 466 C 468 C 469 C471 C 472 C 473 C 475 C 477 C 479 C 480 C 481 C 483 C 485 C 486 C 488 C490 C 492 C 493 C 494 C 497-a C 497-b C 499 C 500 B 501 C 502 C 503 C504 C 505 C 506 C 507 C 508 C 509 C 510 C 511 C 512 C 513 C 514 C 515 C517 C 519 C 521 C 523 C 525 C 526 C 527 C 528 C 529 C 530 C 531 C 532 C533 C 534 C 535 C 536 C 537 C 538 C 539 C 540 C 541 C 542 C

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims.

1. A compound represented by Formula (I):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: D and Z are areeach independently absent or optionally substituted linear aliphaticgroup comprising zero to eight carbons; A and E are are eachindependently absent or a cyclic group; wherein said each cyclic groupis independently selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl,heterocyclic, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, and C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, each optionallysubstituted; T is absent or an optionally substituted aliphatic group;Wherein one to four of A, D, E, T and Z is absent; Ring B is afive-membered heteroaryl, wherein said heteroaryl is optionallysubstituted; R¹ at each occurrence is independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, optionally substitutedC₁-C₄ alkyl, —O—R¹¹, —NR^(a)R^(b), —C(O)R¹¹, —CO₂R¹¹, and—C(O)NR^(a)R^(b); R¹¹ at each occurrence is independently hydrogen oroptionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl; R^(a) and R^(b) at each occurrenceare each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen,optionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl, and optionally substituted C₂-C₈alkenyl; or R^(a) and R^(b) can be taken together with the nitrogen atomto which they are attached to form an optionally substitutedheterocyclic or optionally substituted heteroaryl group; u isindependently 1, 2, or 3; Q and J are each independently selected from:

R³ and R⁴ at each occurrence are each independently selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl,optionally substituted C₂-C₈ alkenyl, and optionally substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; or alternatively, R³ and R⁴ can be taken together with thecarbon atom to which they are attached to form optionally substitutedC₃-C₈ cycloalkyl or optionally substituted heterocyclic; R⁵ at eachoccurrence is independently hydrogen, optionally substituted C₁-C₈alkyl, or optionally substituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; R⁶ is selected fromthe group consisting of —C(O)—R¹², —C(O)—C(O)—R¹², —S(O)₂—R¹², and—C(S)—R¹²; R¹² at each occurrence is independently selected from thegroup consisting of —O—R¹¹, —NR^(a)R^(b), —R¹³, and —NR^(c)R^(d);wherein R¹³ at each occurrence is independently selected from the groupconsisting of: hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl,C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, heterocyclic, aryl, andheteroaryl, each optionally substituted; and R^(c) and R^(d) at eachoccurrence are each independently selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen, —R¹³, —C(O)—R¹³, —C(O)—OR¹³, —S(O)₂—R¹³, —C(O)N(R¹³)₂, and—S(O)₂N(R¹³)₂; m is 0, 1, or 2; n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; X at each occurrenceis independently selected from O, S, S(O), SO₂, and C(R⁷)₂; providedthat when m is 0, X is C(R⁷)₂; and R⁷ at each occurrence isindependently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, halogen,cyano, —O—R¹¹, —NR^(a)R^(b), optionally substituted aryl, optionallysubstituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted —C₁-C₄ alkyl; or twovicinal R⁷ groups are taken together with the two adjacent atoms towhich they are attached to form a fused, optionally substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl or optionally substituted heterocyclic ring; or alternativelytwo geminal R⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon atom to whichthey are attached to form a spiro, optionally substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl or optionally substituted heterocyclic ring.
 2. The compoundof claim 1, wherein Q and J are each independently selected from:

wherein X is independently CH₂, CF₂, CHF, or CH(OH); or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 3. The compound of claim 1,wherein Ring B is selected from imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl,oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, and isoxazolyl; and Ring B is C-attached to Jand C-attached to one of Z, E, T, A and D; or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt.
 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein Q and J are eachindependently

R¹ is each independently hydrogen; Ring B is selected from imidazolyl,pyrazolyl, 1,3,4-triazolyl, and 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl; and Ring B isC-attached to J and C-attached to one of Z, E, T, A and D; or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 5. The compound of claim 1,wherein each of D, A, E, and Z are absent and T is present; or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 6. The compound of claim 1,wherein each of D, E, T, and Z are absent, and A is present; or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 7. The compound of claim 1,wherein each of D, E, and Z are absent and each of A and T are present;or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 8. The compound of claim1, wherein each of D, A, and Z are absent and each of T and E arepresent; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 9. The compoundof claim 1, wherein each of D, T, and Z are absent and A and E are eachpresent; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 10. The compoundof claim 1, wherein each of E and Z are absent and D, A, and T are eachpresent; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 11. The compoundof claim 1, wherein each of D and A are absent and T, E, and Z arepresent or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 12. The compoundof claim 1, wherein each of D and Z are absent and A, T, and E arepresent; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 13. The compoundof claim 1, wherein D is absent and A, T, E, and Z are are each present;or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 14. The compound of claim1, wherein Z is absent and D, A, T, and E are each present; or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 15. The compound of claim 1,wherein each of D, A, E, and Z are absent and T is an aliphatic groupcomprising one or more of an olefinic double bond, an alkynic triplebond, O, N(R¹¹), C(O), S(O)₂, C(O)O, C(O)N(R¹¹), OC(O)O, OC(O)N(R¹¹),S(O)₂N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)C(O)N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)C(O)N(R¹¹), N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹),C(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂ and C(O)N(R¹¹)S(O)₂N(R¹¹); or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof.
 16. The compound according to claim 1, selectedfrom the group of compounds 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, and 1-440 shown below, or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

Compounds 1-219.

Entry

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Compounds 220-229.

Entry R R′ R″ X 220 Me H H CH₂ 221 H H H CF₂ 222 Me H H S 223 H H H

224 Me H H O 225 H H H

226 H Ph H CH₂ 227 H H H

228 H H Ph CH₂ 229 H H H

Compounds 234-243.

Entry R R′ R″ 234 Me Me H 235 H Me H 236 Me H Me 237 cyclopropyl Me H238 Me Me Me 239 Me cyclopropyl H 240 Me Allyl H 241 Et Me H 242 MeCHMe₂ H 243 Me Et H

Compounds 244-263.

Entry R R′ 244

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Compounds 264-273.

Entry R R' R″ R′′′ 264 F H H H 265 F F H H 266 Me H H H 267 Me Me H H268 H H Me Me 269 H H Et Et 270 CF₃ H H H 271 CF₃ H CF₃ H 272 Cl H H H273 Cl H Cl H

Compounds 274-299.

Entry R R′ R″ R′′′ 274 Me H H H 275 H CO₂H H H 276 H F H H 277 H H CO₂HH 278 H H F H 279 H H H CO₂H 280 H H H F 281 H CO₂Me H H 282 H Cl H H283 H H CO₂Me H 284 H H Cl H 285 H H H CO₂Me 286 H H H Cl 287 H CONH₂ HH 288 H Me H H 289 H H CONH₂ H 290 H H Me H 291 H H H CONH₂ 292 H H H Me293 H OMe H H 294 H CF₃ H H 295 H H OMe H 296 H H CF₃ H 297 H H H OMe298 H H H CF₃ 299 CO₂Me H H H

Compounds 300-434.

Entry A^(a) 300

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Compounds 435-440.

Entry B^(b) 435

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440


17. A compound of claim 1, represented by Formula (II), or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:


18. A compound of claim 17, wherein m is 1; n is 1 or 2; u is 1 or 2; Eis phenyl, monocyclic heteroaryl, bicyclic aryl, or bicyclic heteroaryl,each optionally substituted; T is absent or optionally substituted C₂-C₄alkenyl or optionally substituted C₂-C₄ alkynyl; R¹ at each occurrenceis independently hydrogen or halogen; X at each occurrence is eachindependently CH₂, CHF, CH(OH), CHMe, CF₂, or C(R⁷)₂; wherein R⁷ at eachoccurrence is independently hydrogen or methyl; alternatively, the twogeminal R⁷ groups are taken together with the carbon to which they areattached to form a spiro, optionally substituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; oryet alternatively, two vicinal R⁷ groups are taken together with the twoadjacent atoms to which they are attached to form a fused, optionallysubstituted C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; and R¹² at each occurrence isindependently optionally substituted C₁-C₈ alkyl; or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof.
 19. A compound of claim 1, represented byFormula (III-a), (III-b), (III-c) or (III-d):

wherein n is 1 or 2; X at each occurrence is independently CH₂, CHF,CH(OH), CHMe, CF₂, or C(R⁷)₂; wherein R⁷ at each occurrence isindependently hydrogen or methyl; alternatively, two geminal R⁷ groupsare taken together with the carbon to which they are attached to form aspiro cyclopropyl; or yet alternatively, two vicinal R⁷ groups are takentogether with the two adjacent atoms to which they are attached to forma fused cyclopropyl; and R¹² at each occurrence is independently C₁-C₈alkyl optionally substituted with amino, hydroxy, protected amino, orO(C₁-C₄ alkyl); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 20. Thecompound of claim 1, wherein

is selected from the group listed below, or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof:


21. A compound according to claim 1 selected from the group of compounds441-545 shown below, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:


22. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound or a combinationof compounds according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier orexcipient.
 23. A method of inhibiting the replication of anRNA-containing virus comprising contacting said virus with atherapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination ofcompounds of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 24.A method of treating or preventing infection caused by an RNA-containingvirus comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment atherapeutically effective amount of a compound or combination ofcompounds of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 25.The method of claim 24, wherein the RNA-containing virus is hepatitis Cvirus.
 26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step ofco-administering one or more agents selected from the group consistingof a host immune modulator and an antiviral agent, or a combinationthereof.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the host immune modulatoris selected from the group consisting of interferon-alpha,pegylated-interferon-alpha, interferon-beta, interferon-gamma, consensusinterferon, a cytokine, and a vaccine.
 28. The method of claim 26,wherein the antiviral agents inhibit replication of HCV by inhibitinghost cellular functions associated with viral replication.
 29. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the antiviral agents inhibit the replicationof HCV by targeting proteins of the viral genome.
 30. The method ofclaim 26, wherein said antiviral agent is an inhibitor of a HCV viralprotein, a replication process or a combination thereof, wherein saidtargeting protein or replication process is selected from the groupconsisting of helicase, protease, polymerase, metalloprotease, NS4A,NS4B, NS5A, assembly, entry, and IRES.
 31. The method of claim 24,further comprising the step of co-administering an agent or combinationof agents that treat or alleviate symptoms of HCV infection selectedfrom cirrhosis and inflammation of the liver.
 32. The method of claim24, further comprising the step of co-administering one or more agentsthat treat patients for disease caused by hepatitis B (HBV) infection.33. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step ofco-administering one or more agents that treat patients for diseasecaused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
 34. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 22, further comprising an agentselected from interferon, pegylated interferon, ribavirin, amantadine,an HCV protease inhibitor, an HCV polymerase inhibitor, an HCV helicaseinhibitor, or an internal ribosome entry site inhibitor.
 35. Thecomposition of claim 22, further comprising a cytochrome P450monooxygenase inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.36. The composition of claim 35, wherein the cytochrome P450 mooxygenaseinhibitor is ritonavir.
 37. A method of treating hepatitis C infectionin a subject in need thereof comprising co-administering to said subjecta cytochrome P450 monooxygenase inhibitor or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof, and a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof.
 38. A process of making a compound of claim 1comprising the steps of: i) preparing a compound of Formula (II-a):

via a transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reaction; wherein: E isoptionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl; T, X,n, u, R¹, and R⁷ are as defined in claim 1; Z^(a) and Z^(b) are eachindependently an amino protecting group or —C(O)—R¹²; R¹² is C₁-C₈ alkyloptionally substituted with amino, hydroxy, protected amino, or O(C₁-C₄alkyl); ii) when Z^(a) or Z^(b) is an amino protecting group, fully orselectively deprotecting a compound of Formula (II-a) to give thecorresponding amine of Formula (II-b):

wherein Z′ is hydrogen, an amino protecting group or —C(O)—R¹²; iii)capping the released amino group of a compound of Formula (II-b) withLG-C(O)—R¹², wherein LG is a leaving group; to give the compound ofFormula (II-c):

wherein Z^(d) is an amino protecting group —C(O)—R¹²; and iv) repeatedreaction sequence of deprotecting and capping (step ii-iii) to give thecompound of Formula (II-d):